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The life boat rescuing the passengers from the wreck of the Isabella . 































































































































































































AN 


% 

AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT; 

• > 

OF THE MOST 


REMARKABLE EVENTS: 


CONTAINING THE LIVES OF THE MOST NOTED 
PIRATES AND PIRACIES. 


ALSO, THE MOST 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 

FIRES, FAMINES, CALAMITIES, PROVIDENTIAL 
DELIVERANCES, AND LAMENTABLE 
DISASTERS ON THE SEAS, 

IN MOST PARTS OF 


THE WOULD 




By R.''THOMAS, A. M. 

AN 


Embellished with numerous plates from original designs. 

V 


Iva : 




ty of Washing 


. ^ NEW YORK: * 

PUBLISHED BY EZRA STRONG. 

■ S3, * 








' Or 5 KS 

Ta<* 

I 


Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1835, by Ezra Stronj, 
in the ClerVs office of the State of Connecticut. 


BOSTON: 

STEREOTYPED BY SHEPARD, OLIVER AND CO 
No. 3, Water »r«fr 

# 






























The Victoire engages with two Salle-men . Page 7. 














































































































































































































































THB 


HISTORY 

OF 

THE PIRATES. 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 


CAPTAIN MISSON was born in Provence, of 
an ancient family. His father was master of a plen¬ 
tiful fortune ; but having a great number of chil¬ 
dren, our rover had but little hopes of other fortune 
than what he could carve out for himself with his 
sword. Ilis parents took care to give him an edu¬ 
cation equal to his birth, and upon the completion 
of it would have put him into the musketeers; but 
% as he was of a roving temper, and much affected 
with the accounts he had read in books of travfis, 
he chose the sea as a life which abounds with more 
variety, and would afford him an opportunity to 
gratify his curiosity, by the change of countries. 
Having made this choice, his father, with letters of 
recommendation, and every thing fitting for him, 
sent him volunteer on board the Yictoire, com¬ 
manded by Monsieur Ij’ourbin, his relation. He was 
received on board with all possible regard by the 
Captain, whose ship was as Marseilles, and was 
ordered to cruise soon after Misson’s arrival. No¬ 
thing could be more agreeable to the inclinations 
of our volunteer than this cruise, which made him 
1 * 


G CAPTAIN MISSON. 

acquainted with the most noted ports in the Medi¬ 
terranean, and gave him a great insight into the 
practical part of navigation. He grew fond of this 
life, and was resolved to be a complete sailor, which 
made him always one of the first on a yard arm, 
either to hand or reef, and very inquisitive in the 
different methods of working a ship: his discourse 
was turned on no other subject, and he would often 
get the boatswain and carpenter to teach him in 
their cabins the constituent parts of a ship’s hull, 
and how to rig her, which he generously paid them 
for; and though he spent a great part of his time 
with these two officers, yet he behaved himself with 
such prudence that they never attempted any fami¬ 
liarity,and always paid the respect due to his family. 
The ship being at Naples, ho obtained leave of his 
captain to go to Rome, which he had a great desire 
to visit. Hence we may date his misfortunes; for, 
remarking the licentious lives of the clergy, (so dif¬ 
ferent from the regularity observed among the 
French ecclesiastics,)the luxury of the Papal Court, 
and that nothing but hulls of religion were to be 
found in the metropolis of the Christian church, he 
b. gan to figure to himself that all religion was no 
more than a curb upon the minds of the weaker, 
which the wiser sort yielded to, in appearance only. 
These sentiments, so disadvantageous to religion 
and himself, were strongly riveted by accidentally 
becoming acquainted with a lewd priest, who was 
at his arrival (by mere chance) his confessor, and 
after that his procurer and companion, for he kept 
him company to his death. 

Misson at length became so much attached to 
this man, that he advised him to go with him as vo¬ 
lunteer, and offered him money to clothe him: the 
priest leaped at the proposal, and a letter coming to 
Mission from his captain, that he was going to Leg¬ 
horn, and left it to him either to come to Naples, or 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 7 

go by land; he chose the latter, and the Dominican, 
whom he furnished with money, clothing himself 
very cavalierly, threw off his habit, and preceded 
him two days, staying at Pisa for Misson; from 
whence they went together to Leghorn,where they 
found theVictoire, and signior Caraccioli, recom¬ 
mended by his friend, was received on board. Two 
days after they weighed from hence, and after a 
week’s cruise fell in with two Sallee-men, the one 
of twenty, the other of twenty-four guns ; the Vic- 
toire had but thirty mounted, though she had ports 
for forty. The engagement was long and bloody, 
for the Sallee-men hoped to carry the Victoire; and, 
on the contrary, Capt. Fourbin, so far from having 
any thoughts of being taken, he was resolutely bent 
to make prize of his enemies, or sink his ship. One 
of the Sallee-men was commanded by a Spanish 
renegade, (though he had only the title ofa lieuten¬ 
ant) for the captain was a young man who knew 
little of marine affairs. 

This ship was called the Lion; and he attempted, 
more than once, to board the Victoire; hut by a 
shot betwixt wind and water, he was obliged 
sheer off, and running his guns, &c. on one sidgAo 
bring her on the careen to stop his leak; this bang 
done with too much precipitation, she overseLand 
every soul was lost. His comrade, seeing this dis¬ 
aster, threw out all his small sails, endeavoured to 
get off, but the Victoire wronged her, and obliged 
her to renew the fight, which she did with great ob¬ 
stinacy, and made Monsieur Fourbin despair of car¬ 
rying her if he did not board; he made preparations 
accordingly. Signior Caraccioli and Misson were 
the two first on board when the command was 
given; but they and their followers were beat back 
by the despair of the Sallee-men; the former re¬ 
ceived a shot in his thigh, and was carried down 
to the surgeon. The Victcire laid her on board the 


8 CAPTAIN MISSON* 

second time, and the Sallee-men defended tin) t 
decks with such resolution, that they were covered 
with their own, and the dead bodies of their ene¬ 
mies. Misson seeing one of them jump down the 
main hatch with a lighted match, suspecting his 
design, resolutely leaped after him, and reaching 
him with his sabre, laid him dead the moment he 
was going to set fire to the powder. The Yictoire 
pouring in more men, the Mahometans quitted the 
decks, finding resistance vain, and fled for shelter 
to the cook-room, steerage, and cabins, and some 
ran between decks. The French gave them quar¬ 
ters, and put the prisoners on board the Yictoire, 
the prize yielding nothing worth mention, except 
liberty to about fifteen Christian slaves ; she was 
carried into and sold with the prisoners at Leghorn. 
The Turks lost a great many men; the French not 
less than 35 in boarding, for they lost very few by 
the great shot, the Sallee-men firing mostly at the 
masts and rigging, hoping by disabling to carry 
her. The limited time of their cruise being out, the 
Victoire returned toMarseilles, from whenceMisson 
taking his companion, went to visit his parents, to 
whom the captain sent a very advantageous cha 
racier, both of his courage and conduct . He was 
about a month at home when his captain wrote to 
him, that his ship was ordered to Rochelle, from 
whence he was to sail for the West Indies with some 
merchantmen. This was very agreeable to Misson 
and signior Caraccioli, who immediately set out for 
Marseilles. This town is well fortified, has four 
parish churches, and the number of inhabitants is 
computed to be about 120,000; the harbour is es¬ 
teemed the safest in the Mediteranean, and is the 
common station for the French gallies. 

Leaving this place, they steered for Rochelle, 
where the Victoire was docked, the merchant ships 
not being near ready. Misson, who did not care to 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 9 

pass so long a time in idleness, proposed to his 
comrade the taking a cruise on board the Triumph, 
which was going into the English channel; and the 
Italian readily consented to it. 

Between the Isle of Guernsey and the Start 
Point, they met with theMayflower,Capt.Balladine, 
commander, a merchant ship of 18 guns, richly 
laden, and coming from Jamaica. The captain of 
the English made a gallant resistance, and fought 
his ship so long, that the French could not carry 
her into harbour, wherefore they took the money, 
and what was most valuable, out of her; and finding 
she made more water than the pumps could free, 
quitted, and saw her go down in less than four hours 
after. Monsieur Le Blanc, the French captain, re¬ 
ceived Capt. Balladine very civilly, and would not 
suffer either him or his men to be stripped, saying, 
None but cowards ought to be treated after that 
manner; that brave men ought to treat such , though 
their enemies , as brothers; attd that to use a gal¬ 
lant man (who does his duty) ill , speaks a revenge 
which cannot proceed but from a coward soul. He or¬ 
dered that the prisoners should have their chests • 
and when some of his men seemed to mutter, he 
hade them remember the grandeur of the monarch 
they served; that they were neither pirates nor 
privateers; and as brave men, they ought to show 
their enemies an example they would willingly 
have followed, and use their prisoners as they 
wished to he used. 

They then run up the English channel as high as 
Beachy Head, and, in returning, fell in with three 
fifty gun ships; which gave chase to the Triumph ; 
but as she was an excellent sailor, she run them 
out of sight in seven glasses, and made the best of 
her way for the Land’s-End. They here cruised 
eight days, then doubling Cape Cornwall, ran up 
the Bristol channel, near as far as Nash Point, and 


10 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

intercepted a small ship from Barbadoes, and 
stretching away to the northward, gave chase to a 
ship they saw in the evening, hut lost her in the 
night. The Triumph then stood towards Milford, 
and spying a sail, endeavoured to cut her off the 
land, but found it impossible ; for she got into the 
haven, though they came up with her very fast, 
and she had surely been taken ha.d the chase been 
any thing longer. 

Cept. Balladine, who took the glass, said it was 
the Port Royal, a Bristol ship, which left Jamaica 
in company with him and the Charles. They now 
returned to their own coast, and sold their prize 
at Brest, where, at his desire, they left Capt. Bal¬ 
ladine, and Monsieur Le Blanc made him a present 
of a purse with 40 louis for his support. His crew 
were also left here. 

At the entrance into this harbour the Triumph 
struck upon a rock, but received no damage. This 
entrance, called Gonlet, is very dangerous on ac¬ 
count of the number of rocks which lie on each side 
under water,though theharbour is certainlythe best 
inFrance. The mouth of the harbour is defended by 
a strong castle; the town is well fortified, and has a 
citadel for its farther defence, which is of consider¬ 
able strength. In 1694 the English attempted a de¬ 
scent, but did not find their market, for they were 
beat off with the loss of their general,and a great ma¬ 
ny men. From hence the Triumph returned to Ro¬ 
chelle, and in a month after, our volunteers, who 
went on board theVictoire, took their departure for 
Martinico andGuadaloupe. They met with nothing 
in their voyage thither worth noting. I shall only 
observe, that signior Caraccioli, who was as ambiti¬ 
ous as he was irreligious, had, by this time, made a 
perfect deist of Misson, and thereby convinced him, 
that all religion was no other than human policy. 
But his arguments on this head are too long, and too 


CAPTAIN MISSON. , 11 

dangerous to translate; and as they are worked 
up with great subtlety, they may be pernicious to 
weak men, who t cannot discover their fallacy; or 
who, finding them agreeable to their inclinations, 
would be glad to shake off the yoke of the Christian 
religion, which galls and curbs their passions, and 
would not give themselves the trouble to examine 
them to the bottom, but give it to what pleases, 
glad of finding some excuse to their consciences. 

As he had privately held these discourses among 
the crew, he had gained a number of proselytes, 
who looked upon him as a new prophet risen up to 
reform the abuses in religion; and a great number 
being Rochellers, and, as yet, tainted with Calvan- 
ism, his doctrine was the more readily embraced. 
When be had experienced the affects of his religious 
arguments, he fell upon government, and showed, 
that every man was born free, and had as much right 
to wliat would support him,as to the air he respired. 
A contrary way of arguing would be accusing the 
deity with cruelty and injustice, for he brought, into 
the world no man to pass a life of penury, and to 
miserably want a necessary support; that the vast 
difference bet ween man and man, one wallowing in 
luxury, and the other in the most pinching neces¬ 
sity, was owing only to avarice and ambition on the 
one band, and a pussillanimous subjection on the 
other; that at first no other than a natural was known 
a paternal government; every father was the head, 
the prince and monarch of his family,and obedience 
to such was both just and easy,for a father had com¬ 
passionate tenderness for his children; but ambition 
creeping in by degrees, the stronger family set up¬ 
on and enslaved the weaker ; and this additional 
strength over-run a third, by every conquest gather¬ 
ing force to make others, and this was the first 
foundation of monarchy. Pride increasing with 
power, man usurped the prerogative of God, over 


12 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

his creatures, that of depriving them of life, which 
was a privilege no one had over his own; for as he 
did not come into the world by his own election, he 
ought to stay the determined time of his creator; 
that indeed, death given in war, was by the law of 
nature allowable, because it is for the preservation 
of our own lives; but no crime ought to be thus 
punished, nor indeed any war undertaken, but in 
defence of our natural right, which is such a share 
of earth as is necessary for our support. 

These topics he often declaimed on, and very often 
advised with Misson about the setting up for them¬ 
selves ; he was as ambitious as the other, and as 
resolute. Caraccioii and Misson were by this, ex¬ 
pert mariners,and very capable of managing a ship; 
Caraccioii had sounded a great many of the men on 
this subject, and found them very inclinable to list¬ 
en to him. An accident happened which gave Ca¬ 
raccioii a fair opportunity to put his designs in exe¬ 
cution, and he laid hold of it. They went off Mar- 
tinico on a cruise, and met with theWinchelsea, an 
English man of war of40 guns, commanded byCapt. 
Jones ; they made for each other, and a very smart 
engagement followed; the first broadside killed the 
captain, second captain, and the three lieutenants, 
on board theVictoire, and left only the master,who 
would have struck, but Misson took up the sword, 
ordered Caraccioii to act as lieutenant, and encour¬ 
aging the men fought the ship six glasses, when by 
some accident the Winchelsea blew up, and not a 
man was saved butLieut.Franklin,whom theFrench 
boats took up, and he died in two days. None ever 
knewbefore this manuscript fell into my hands, how 
theWinchelsea was lost; for her head being driven 
ashore at Antigua, and a great storm having hap¬ 
pened a few days before it was found, it was con¬ 
cluded, that she foundered in that storm. After this 
engagement.Caraccioli came to Misson and saluted 


Engagement between the Victorie and Winchelsca . The Winchelsca 

blew up. Page 12 . 



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CAPTAIN MISSON. 13 

him captain,and desired to know if he would cfyoose 
a momentary or a lasting command, that he must 
now determine,for at his return toMartinico it would 
be too late; and he might depend upon the ship he 
fought and saved being given to another, and they 
would think him well rewarded if made a lieutenant 
which piece of justice he doubted; that he had his 
fortune in his hands, which he might either keep 
or let go ; if he made choice of the latter, he must 
never again expect she would court him to accept 
her favours ; that he ought to set before his eyes his 
circumstances, as a younger brother of a good fa¬ 
mily, but nothing to support his character; and the 
many years he must serve at the expense of his 
blood before he could make any figure in the world, 
and consider the wide difference between the com¬ 
manding and being commanded; that he might with 
the ship he had under foot, and the brave fellows 
under command, bid defiance to the power of Eu¬ 
rope, enjoy every thing he wished, reign sovereign 
of the Southern Seas, and lawfully make war on all 
the world, since it would deprive him of that liberty 
to which he had a right by the laws of nature, that 
he might in time,.become as greatasAlexander was 
to the Persians: and by increasing his forces by cap¬ 
tures, he would every day strengthen the justice of 
j j is cause, for who has power is always in the right. 
That Harry the fourth and Harry the seventh, at¬ 
tempted and succeeded in their enterprises on the 
crown of England, yet their forces did not equal his. 
Mahomet with a few camel drivers, founded theOt- 
toman empire; and Darius,with no more than six or 
seven companions, got possession of that of Persia. 

In a word, he said so much that Misson resolved 
to follow his advice, and calling up all hands, he 
told them, “That a great number of them had re¬ 
solved with him upon a life of liberty, and had done 
him the honor to create him chief; that lie designed 


14 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

to force no man, and be guilty of that injustice lie 
blamed in others; therefore, if any were averse to 
the followinghis fortune, which he promised should 
be the same to all, he desired they would declare 
themselves, and he would set them ashore, whence 
they might return with conveniency.” Having made 
an end, they one and all cried, “ Vice le Capi tain Mis¬ 
sion et sonLieutenant le scavant Caraccioti ”—God bless 
Captain Miss mi and his learned Lieutenant Caraccioti• 
Misson thanked them lor the honor they conferred 
upon him, and promised he would use the power 
they gave for the public good only, and hoped as 
they had the bravery to assert their liberty, they 
would be as unanimous in the preservation of it, 
and standby him in what should be found expedient 
for the good of all; that he was their friend and 
companion, and should never exprt his power, or 
think himself other than their comrade, but when 
the necessity of affairs should oblige him. 

They shouted a second time, Vive le Capitain: he, 
after this, desired they would choose their subal¬ 
tern officers, and give them power to consult and 
conclude upon what might be for the common in¬ 
terest., and bind themselves down by an oath to 
agree to what such officers and he should deter¬ 
mine ; this they readily gave in to. The school¬ 
master they chose for second lieutenant, Jean he- 
sace they nominated for third, and the boatswain, 
and a quarter master, named Mathieu le Tond'tt, 
with the gunner they desired might be their repre¬ 
sentatives in council. The choice was approved, 
and that everything might pass methodically, and 
with general approbation, they were called into the 
great cabin, and the question put, What course they 
should steer ?■ The captain proposed the Spanish 
coast as the most probable to afford them rich prizes. 
This was agreed upon by all. The boatswain then 
asked what colours they should fight under, and 


CAPTAIN MJSSON. 15 

advised Hack ns the most terrifying: but Caraccioli 
objected, “that they were no pirates, but men who 
were resolved to assert that liberty which God and 
nature gave them, and own no subjection to any, 
farther than was for the common good of all: that 
indeed obedience to governors was necessary,when 
they knew and acted up to the duty of their func¬ 
tion ; were vigilant guardians of the people’s rights 
and liberties; saw that justice was equally distri¬ 
buted ; were barriers against the rich and powerful, 
when they attempted to oppress the weaker; when 
they suffered none on the one hand to grow im¬ 
mensely rich, either by bis own or bis ancestor’s 
encroachments: nor on the other, to be wretch¬ 
edly miserable, either by falling, into the hands of 
vi 11 ain s, u nm er ci(u 1 c red itors, or oth er misfort un es; 
while lie had eyes impartial, and allowed nothing 
but merit to distinguish between man and man; 
and instead of being a burthen to the people by his 
luxurious life, he was by his care for, and protection 
of them, areal father, and in every thing acted with 
the equal and impartial justice of a parent: but 
hen a governor, who is the minister of the people, 
thinks himself raised to this dignity, that lie may 
spend his days in pomp and luxury, looking upon 
his subjects as so many slaves, created for his use 
and pleasure, and therefore leaves them and their 
affairs to the immeasurable avarice and tyranny ol 
some one whom he has chosen for his favourite; 
when nothing hut oppression, poverty and all the 
miseries of life flow from such an administration; 
that he lavishes away the lives and fortunes of the 
people, either to gratify his ambition, or to support 
the cause ofsome ncighbouringprince, that he may 
in return, strengthen his hands should his people 
exert themselves in defence of their native rights; 
or should he run into unnecessary wars, by the rash 
and thoughtless councils of his favourite, and not 


16 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

able to make head against the enemy he has rash 
ly or wantonly brought upon his hands, and buy a 
peace (which is the present case of France, as eve 
ry one knows, by supporting KingJames, and after¬ 
wards proclaiming his son) and drain the subject; 
should the people’s trade be wilfully neglected, for 
private interests, and while their ships of war lie 
idle in their harbours, suffer their vessels to be 
taken ; and the enemy not only intercepts all com¬ 
merce, but insults their coasts: it speaks a generous 
and great soul to shake off the yoke ; and if we can¬ 
not redress our wrongs, withdraw from sharing the 
miseries which meaner spirits submit to, and scorn 
to yield to the tyranny. Such men as we, and, if the 
world, as experience may convince us it will, makes 
war upon us, the law of nature empowers us not 
only to be on the defensive, but also on the offensive 
part. As we then do not proceed upon the same 
ground with pirates, who are men of dissolute lives 
and no principles, let us scorn to take their co¬ 
lours ; ours is a brave, a just, an innocent, and a 
noble cause; the cause of liberty. I therefore ad¬ 
vise a white ensign, with liberty painted in the fly, 
and if you like the motto, “ a Deo a liber tatef for 
God and liberty, as an emblem of our uprightness 
and resolution.” 

The cabin door was left open, and the bulk-head, 
which was of canvass, rolled up : the steerage being 
full of men, who lent an attentive ear, they cried, 
“ Liberty , Liberty; we are free men: Vive the brave 
Capt . Misson and the noble Lieut. Caraccioli /” This 
short council breaking up, every thing belonging 
to the deceased captain, and the other officers, and 
men lost in the engagement, was brought upon 
deck and overhauled; the money ordered to be put 
into a chest, and the carpenter to clap on a padlock, 
and give a key to every one of the council; Misson 
telling them, all should be in common, and the 


CAPTAIN M1SSON. 17 

particular avarice of no one should defraud the 
public. 

AVhen the plate MonsieurFourbin had, was going 
to the chest, the men unanimously cried out “ avast! 
keep that out for the captain’s use, as a present 
from his officers and fore-mast men.” Misson thank¬ 
ed them, the plate was returned to the great cabin, 
and the chest secured according to orders : Misson 
then ordered his lieutenants and other officers to 
examine who among the men, were in most want of 
clothes, and to distribute those of the dead men im¬ 
partially, which was done with the general consent 
and applause of the whole crew. All but the wound¬ 
ed being upon deck, Misson from the barricade, 
spoke to the following purpose, “ That since they 
had unanimously resolved to seize upon and defend 
their liberty, which ambitious men had usurped, 
and that this could not be esteemed by impartial 
judges other than a just and brave resolution, he 
was under an obligation to recommend to them a 
brotherly love to each other ; the banishment of all 
private piques and grudges, and a strict agreement 
and harmony among themselves ; that in throwing 
off the yoke of tyranny, of which the action spoke 
an abhorance, he hoped none would follow the ex¬ 
ample of tyrants, and turn his back upon justice ; 
for when equity was trodden under foot, misery, 
confusion, and mutual distrust naturally followed.” 
He also advised them to remember there was a Su¬ 
preme, the adoration of whom, reason and grati¬ 
tude prompted us to, and our own interest would 
engage us (as it is best to be of the sure side, and 
after-life was allowed possible) to conciliate : that 
he was satisfied men who were born and bred in 
slavery, by which their spirits were broke, and were 
incapable of so generous a way of thinking ; who, 
ignorant of their birth-right, and the sweets of liber¬ 
ty, dance to the music of their chains, which was, 
2 * 


18 CAPTAIN MISSON, 

indeed the greater part of the inhabitants of the 
globe, would brand this generous crew with the in¬ 
vidious name of pirates, and think it meritorious to 
be instrumental in their destruction. Self-preser¬ 
vation, therefore, and not a cruel disposition, ob¬ 
liged him to declare war against all such as should 
refuse him the entry of their ports, and against alb 
who should not immediately surrender and give 
up what their necesssitiesrequired; but in a more 
particular manner against all European ships and 
vessels, as concluded implacable enemies. And J 
do now, said he, declare such rear, and, at the same 
time, recommend to you, my comrades, a humane and 
generous behaviour, towards your 'prisoners; which 
will appear by so much more the effects of a noble 
soul, as we are satisfied we should not meet the same 
treatment should our ill fortune, or more properly 
our disunion, or want of courage, give us up to their 
mercy. 

After this, he required a muster should be made, 
and there were able hands two hundred, and thirty- 
five sick and wounded. As they were mustered, 
they were sworn. After affairs were thus settled, 
they shaped their course for the Spanish West 
Indies, but resolved in the way, to take a week or 
ten days’ cruise in the windward passage from Ja¬ 
maica, because most merchantmen, which were 
good sailers, and did not stay for convoy, took this 
as the shorter cut for England. 

OfFSt. Christopher’s they took an English sloop 
becalmed, with their boats. They took out of her 
a couple of puncheons of rum, and half a dozen 
hogsheads of sugar. She was a New-England 
sloop, bound for Boston, and without offering the 
least violence to the men, or stripping them, they 
let her go. The master of the sloop was Thomas 
Butler, who owned he never met with so candid an 
enemy as the French man of war, which took him 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 19 

the day he left St. Christophers. They met with no 
other booty in their way, till they came upon their 
station, when after three days, they saw a sloop 
which had the impudence to give them chase. 
Capt. Misson asked what could he the meaning of 
the sloop standing for them ? One of the men who 
was acquainted with the West Indies, told him, it 
was a Jamaica privateer, and he should not wonder, 
if he clapped him aboard. “ I am,” said he, “ no 
stranger to their way of working, and this despic¬ 
able fellow, as those who don’t know a Jamaica pri¬ 
vateer may think him, it is ten to one will give you 
some trouble. It now grows towards evening, and 
you’ll find as soon as he has discovered your force, 
he’ll keep out of the reach of your guns till the 12 
o’clock watch is changed at night, and he’ll then at¬ 
tempt to clap you aboard, with hopes to carry you 
in the hurry: wherefore, captain, if you will give me 
leave to advise you, let every man have his small 
arms; and at 12, let the bell ring as usual, and rather 
more noise than ordinary he made, as if the one 
watch was turning in, and the other out, in a confu¬ 
sion and hurry, and I’ll engage he will venture to 
enter his men.” The fellow’s advice was approved 
and resolved upon, and the sloop worked as he said 
she would; for upon coming near enough to make 
out distinctly the force of theVictoire, on her throw¬ 
ing out French colours, she, the sloop, clapped up¬ 
on a wind, and theVictoire gave chase, hut without 
hopes of gainingupon her; she went so well to wind¬ 
ward, that she could spare the ship some points in 
her sheet, and yet wrong her: at dusk of the even¬ 
ing, the French had lost sight of her, but about 11 at 
night, they saw her hankering up on their weather 
bow, which confirmed the sailor’s opinion, that she 
would attempt to board them, as she did at the 
pretended change of the watch; there being little or 
no wind, she lashed to the bowsprit of the Victoire, 


20 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

and entered her men, who were very quietly taken, 
as they entered, and tumbled down the fore-hatch 
where they were received by others, and bound 
without noise. Not one of the privateersmen was 
killed, few hurt, andonly one Frenchman wounded. 
The Victoire, seeing the better part of the sloop’s 
men secured, they boarded in their turn, when the 
privateersmen, suspecting some stratagem, were 
endeavouring to cut their lashing and get off. Thus 
the Englishmen caught a Tartar. The prisoners 
being all secured, the captain charged his men not 
to discover, through a desire of augmenting their 
number, the account they were upon. 

The next morningMonsieurMisson called for the 
captain of the privateer, and told him, he could not 
but allow him abrave fellow,to venture upon a ship 
of his countenance, and for that reason he should 
meet treatment which men of his profession seldom 
afforded the prisoners they made. He asked him 
how long he had been out, what was his name, and 
what he had on board? He answered he was but 
just come out, that he was the first sail he had met 
with, and should have thought himself altogether 
as lucky not to have spoke with him; that his name 
was Harry Ramsey, and what he had on board were 
rags, powder, ball, and some few half ankers of 
rum. Ramsey was ordered into the gun-room, and 
a council was held in the public manner aforesaid, 
the bulk-head of the great cabin being rolled up. 
On their conclusion, the captain of the privateer 
was called in again, when Capt. Misson told him, 
he would return him his sloop, and restore him and 
his men to their liberty, without stripping or plun¬ 
dering them of any thing, but what prudence oblig¬ 
ed him to, their ammunition and small arms, if he 
would give him his word and honour, and his men 
take an oath, not to go out on the privateer account 
in six months after they left him: that he did not 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 21 

design to continue on that station above a week 
longer, at the expiration of which time, he would 
let them go. 

Ramsay, who had a new sloop, did not expect 
this favour which he thanked him for, and promis¬ 
ed punctually to comply with the injunction,which 
his men as readily swore to, though they had no 
design to keep the oath. The time being expired, 
he and his men were put on board their own sloop. 
At. going over the ship’s side,Ramsay beggedMon- 
sieur Misson would allow him powder lor a salute, 
by Avay of thanks ; but he answered him, the cere¬ 
mony was needless, and he expected no other 
return than that of keeping his word, which indeed 
Ramsay did. Some of his men had found it more 
to their advantage to have been as religious. 

At parting Ramsey gave the ship three cheers, 
and Misson had the complaisance to return one, 
which Ramsay answering with three more, made 
the best of his way for Jamaica, and at the east end 
of the island met with the Diana, who, upon advice, 
turned back. 

The Victoire steered for Carthagena, off which 
port they cruised some days, but meeting with no¬ 
thing in those seas, they made for Porto Bello; in 
their way they met with two Dutch traders, who 
had letters-of-marque, and were just come upon 
the coast, the one had 20, the other 24 guns; Mis¬ 
son engaged them, and they defended themselves 
with a great deal of resolution and gallantry ; and 
as they were manned apeak, he durst not venture 
to board either of them, for fear of being at the 
same time boarded by the other. His weight of 
metal gave him a great advantage over the Dutch, 
though they were two to one ; besides, their busi¬ 
ness, as they had cargoes, was to get off, if possible, 
wherefore they made a running fight, though they 
took care to stick close to one another. 


22 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

They maintained the fight for above six hours, 
when Misson, enraged at this obstinacy, and fear¬ 
ing, if by accident they should bring a mast, or top¬ 
mast by the board, they would get from him, he 
was resolved to sink the larger ship of the two, and 
accordingly ordered his men to bring all their guns 
to bear a midship, then running close along side of 
him, to raise their metal, his orders being punctual¬ 
ly obeyed, he poured in a broadside, which opened 
such a gap in the Dutch ship that she went directly 
to the bottom, and every man perished. 

He then manned his bowsprit, brought his sprit 
sail yard fore and aft, and resolved to board the 
other, which the Dutch perceiving, and terrified 
with the unhappy fate of their comrade, thought 
a farther resistance vain, and immediately struck. 
Misson gave them good quarters, though he was 
enraged at the loss of thirteen men killed outright, 
beside nine wounded, of which six died. They 
found on board a great quantity of gold and silver 
lace, brocade silks, silk stockings, bales of broad¬ 
cloth, baizes of all colours, and osnaburghs. 

A consultation being held, it was resolved Capt. 
Misson should take the name of Fourbin, and re¬ 
turning to Carthagena, dispose of his prize, and set 
his prisoners ashore. Accordingly they plied to the 
eastward, and came to an anchor between Boca 
Chicca fort, and the town, for they did not think it 
expedient to enter the harbour. The barge was 
manned, and Caraccioli, with the name ofD’Aubig- 
ny, the first, lieutenant, who was killed in the en¬ 
gagement with theWinchelsea, and his commission 
i n ins pocket, went ashore with a letter to the gover¬ 
nor, signed Fourbin, whose character, for fear of the 
worst was exactly counterfeited. The purport of 
Ins letter was, that having discretionary orders to 
cruise for three months, and hearing the English 
infested his coast he was come in search of them, 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 23 

and had met two Dutchmen, one of which he had 
sunk, the other he made prize of. That his limited 
time being near expired, he should be obliged to his 
excellency, if he would send on hoard him such 
merchants as were willing to take the ship and car¬ 
go off his hands, of which he had sent the Dutch in¬ 
voice. Don Joseph de la Zerda,the then governor, 
received the lieutenant (who sent back the barge 
at landing) very civilly, and agreed to take the pri¬ 
soners ashore, and do everything that was required 
of him ; and ordering fresh provisions and vegeta¬ 
bles to he got ready as a present for the captain, he 
sent for some merchants, who were very ready to 
go on board, and agree for the ship and goods; which 
they did, for fifty-two thousand pieces of eight. 
The next day the prisoners were set ashore; a rich 
piece of brocade which was reserved, sent to the 
governor for a present, a quantity of fresh provi¬ 
sion bought and brought on board, the money paid 
by the merchants, the ship and goods delivered, and 
the Yictoire, at the dawn of the following day, got 
under sail. It may he wondered how such despatch 
could be made, but the reader must take notice, 
these goods were sold by the Dutch invoice, which 
the merchant of the prize affirmed was genuine. 
J shall observe, by the by, that the Yictoire was the 
French man of war which Admiral Wager sent the 
Kingston in search of, and being afterwards falsely 
informed, that she was joined by another of 70 guns, 
and that they cruised together between the Capes, 
ordered the Severn up to windward, to assist the 
Kingston, which had liketo have proved very fatal; 
for these two English men of war, commanded by 
Capt. Trevor and Capt. Pudnor, meeting in the 
night, had prepared to engage, each taking the 
other for the enemy. The Kingston’s men not bav¬ 
in a o-ood look-out which must be attributed to 


24 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

see the Severn till she was just upon them; but by 
good luck, to leeward, and plying up, with all the 
sail she could crowd, and a clear ship. This put 
the Kingston in such confusion, that when the Se¬ 
vern hailed, no answer was returned for none heard 
her. She was got under the Kingston’s stern, and 
Capt. Pudnor ordered to hail for the third and last 
time, and if no answer was returned, to give her 
a broad-side. The noise on board the Kingston was 
now a little ceased, and Capt. Trevor, who was on 
the poop with a speaking trumpet, to hail the Se¬ 
vern, by good luck heard her hail him, and answer¬ 
ing the Kingston, and asking the name of the other 
ship, prevented the damage. 

They cruised together some time, and meeting 
nothing which answered their information,returned 
to Jamaica, as I shall to my subject, begging par¬ 
don for this, as I thought, necessary digression. 

Don Juan de la Zerda told the captain in a letter, 
that the St. Joseph, a galleon of 70 guns, was then 
lying at Porto Bello, and should be glad if he could 
keep her company till she was off the coast. That 
she would sail in eight or ten days for the Havana; 
and that, if his time would permit him, he would 
send an advice-boat. That she had on board the 
value of 800,000 pieces of eight in silver, and bar 
gold. Misson returned answer, that he believed he 
should be excused if he stretched his orders, for a 
few days; and that he would cruise off the Isle of 
Pearls, and Cape Gratias a Dios,and give for signal 
to the galleon, his spreading a white ensign in his 
fore-top-mast shrouds, the cluing up his fore-sail, 
and the firing one gun to windward, and two to 
leeward, which he should answer by hoisting his 
fore-top-sail three times, and the firing as many 
guns to leeward. Don Joseph, extremely pleased 
with this complaisance, sent a boat express to ad¬ 
vise the St. Joseph, but she was already sailed two 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 25 

days, contrary to the governor of Carthagena’s ex¬ 
pectation, and this advice Capt. Misson had from 
the boat, which returning with an answer, saw the 
Yictoire in the offing, and spoke to her. It was then 
resolved to follow the St. Joseph, and accordingly 
they steered for the Havanna, but by what accident 
they did not overtake her is unknown. 

I forgot to tell my reader, that on board the 
Dutch ship were fourteen French hugonots, whom 
Misson thought fit to detain. When they were at 
sea, he called them up, and proposed to them their 
taking on; telling them at the same time, he left it 
to their choice, for he would have no forced men; 
and that if they all, or any of them disapproved the 
proposal, he would either give them the first vessel 
he met that was fit for them, or set them ashore on 
. some inhabited coast; and therefore bid them take 
two days for consideration before they returned an 
answer; and to encourage them, he called all 
hands up, and declared, that if any man repented 
of the course of life he had chosen, his just dividend 
should be counted to him, and he would set him on 
shore, either near the Havanna, or some other con¬ 
venient place; but notone accepted the oiler, and 
the fourteen prisoners unanimously resolved to join 
in with them; to which resolution, no doubt, the 
hopes of a good booty from the St. Joseph, and this 
offer of liberty, greatly contributed. 

At the entrance of the Gulf they spied and came 
up with a large merchant ship bound for London, 
from Jamaica; she had 20 guns, but no more than 
thirty-two hands, so that it is not to be wondered at 
she made no resistance ; besides, she was deep la¬ 
den with sugars. Mons.Misson took out of her what 
ammunition she had, about four thousand pieces ol 
eight, some puncheons of rum, and ten hogsheads 
of sugar ; and, without doing her any further da¬ 
mage, let her proceed her voyage. What he valued 


26 CAPTAIN MISSON. 


most in this prize was the men he got, for she was 
carrying to Europe twelve French prisoners, two 
of which were necessary hands, being a carpenter 
and his mate. They were of Bordeaux from 
whence they came in the Pomechatraine, which 
was taken by the Mermaid off Petit-Guave, after an 
obstinate resistance, in which they lost 40 men. 
These men very willingly came into Capt. Misson’s 
measures. Having been stripped to the skin, they 
begged leave to make reprisals, but the captain 
would not suffer them, though he told the master of 
the prize, as ne protected him and his men, he 
thought it reasonable these French should he 
clothed ; upon this the master contributed of his 
own, and every man bringing up his chest, thought 
themselves very well off " 
half. 


haring with them one 


Though Misson s snip passed fora French man 
»f war, yet his generosity in letting the prize go, 
gave the English grounds to suspect the truth, nei¬ 
ther the ship nor cargo being of use to such as were 
upon the grand account. 

When they had lost all hopes of the St. Joseph, 
they coasted along the north side of Cuba, and the 
Victoire growing now foul, they ran into a land¬ 
locked bay-on the F. N. E. point, where they hove 
her down by boats and guns, though they could not 
pretend to heave her keel out; however, they 
scraped and tallowed as far as they could go ; they, 
for this reason, many of them, repented they had 
let the last prize go, by which they might have ca¬ 
reened, 

When they had righted the ship, and put every 
thing on hoard, they consulted upon the course 
they should steer. Upon this the council divided. 
The captain and Caraccioli, were for stretching 
over to the African, and the others for New- 
England coast, alleging, that the ship had a foul 


CAPTAIN MTSSON. 27 

bottom, and was not tit for the voyage; and that if 
they met with contrary winds, and bad weather, 
their stock of provision might fall short; and that 
as they were not far from the English settlement 
of Carolina, they might either on that or on the coast 
of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New-York, or 
New-England, intercept ships which traded to the 
islands with provisions and by that means provide 
themselves with bread, flour, and other necessaries. 
An account of the provisions was taken, and find¬ 
ing they had provisions for four months, Capt. Mis- 
son called all hands upon deck, and told them, as 
the council differed in the course they should steer, 
he thought it reasonable to have it put to the vote 
of the whole company. That for his part, he was 
for going to the coast of Guinea, where they might 
reasonably expect to meet with valuable prizes ; 
but should they fail in their expectation one way, 
they would be sure of having it answered in an¬ 
other; for they could then throw themselves in that 
of East-India ships, and he need not tell them, that 
the outward bound drained Europe of what money 
they drew from America. He then gave the sen¬ 
timents of those who were against him, and their 
reasons, and begged that every one would give his 
opinion and vote according as he thought most 
conducive to the good of all. That he should be 
far from taking it ill if they should reject what he 
had proposed, since he had no private views to 
serve. The majority of votes fell on the captain’s 
side, and they accordingly shaped their course for 
the coast of Guinea, in which voyage nothing re¬ 
markable happened. On their arrival on the gold 
coast, they fell in with theNieuwstadt, of Amster 
dam, a ship of 18 guns, commanded by Capt. Blaes, 
who made a running fight of five glasses: this ship 
they kept with them, puttingon board 40 hands, and 
bringing all the prisoners on board the Victoire 


28 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

they were forty-three in number; they left Am¬ 
sterdam with fifty-six: seven were killed in the en¬ 
gagement, and they had lost six by sickness and 
accidents, one falling overboard, and one being 
taken by a shark, going overboard in a calm. 

The Nieuwstadt had some gold dust on board, to 
the value of about £2000 sterling and a few slaves 
to the number of seventeen, for she had but just 
begun to trade; the slaves were a strengthening 
of their hands, for the captain ordered them to be 
clothed out of the Dutch mariners’ chests, and told 
his men “ That the trading for those of our own 
species could never be agreeable to the eyes of 
divine justice : that no man had power over the li¬ 
berty of another; and while those who professed 
a more enlightened knowledge of the Deity, sold 
men like beasts, they proved that their religion was 
no more than grimace, and that they differed from 
the barbarian in name only, since their practice 
was in nothing more humane: for his part, and he 
hoped he spoke the sentiments of all his brave 
companions, he had not exempted his neck from 
the galling yoke of slavery, and asserted his own 
liberty to enslave others. That however these 
men were distinguished from the Europeans by 
their colour, customs, or religious rites, they were 
the work of the same omnipotent Being, and in¬ 
dued with equal reason, wherefore he desired they 
might be treated like freemen, (for he would banish 
even the name of slavery from among them) and 
divided into messes among them, to the end they 
might the sooner learn their language, be sensible 
of the obligation they had to them, and more capa¬ 
ble and zealous to defend that liberty they owed 
to their justice and humanity.’* 

This speech of Misson’s was received with ge¬ 
neral applause, and the ship rang with “ Vive le 
Capitaine Misson .” Long live Capt. Misson .—The 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 29 

negroes were divided among the French, one to a 
mess, who, by their gesticulations showed they 
were gratefully sensible of their being delivered 
from their chains. Their ship growing very foul, 
and going heavily through the water, they run into 
the river Lagoa, where they hove her down, 
taking out such planks as had suffered most by the 
worms, and substituting new in their room. 

After this they % careened the prize, and so put out 
to sea, steering to the southward, and keeping 
along the coast, but met with nothing. All this 
while, the greatest decorum and regularity was ob¬ 
served on board the Victoire; but the Dutch prison¬ 
ers’ example began to lead them into swearing and 
drunkenness, which the captain remarking thought 
it was best to nip these vices in the bud; and calling 
both the French and Dutch upon deck, he address¬ 
ed himself to the latter, desiring their captain, who 
spoke French excellently well, to interpret what he 
said to those who did not understand him. He told 
them, “before he had the misfortune of having them 
onboard, his ears were never grated with hearing 
the name of the great Creator profaned, though he, 
to his sorrow, had often since heard his own men 
guilty of that sin, which administered neither profit 
not pleasure, and might draw upon them a severe 
punishment: that if they had a‘ just idea of that 
great Being, they would never mention him, hut 
they would immediately reflect on his purity and 
their own vileness. That we so easily took impres¬ 
sions from our company, that the Spanish proverb 
says, Let a hermit and a thief live together, the thief 
would become hermit, cr the hermit thief: that he saw 
this verified in his ship, for he could attribute the 
oathsand curses he had heard among his brave com¬ 
panions, to nothing but the odious example of the 
Dutch: that this was not the only vice they had in¬ 
troduced, for before'they were on board, his men 
3* 


30 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

were men, but he found by tlieir beastly pattern 
they were degenerated into brutes, by drowning 
that only faculty which distinguishes between men 
and beasts, reason. That as he had the honour to 
command them, he could not see them run into 
these odious vices without a sincere concern, as he 
had a paternal affection for them; and he should re¬ 
proach himself as neglectful of the common good, 
if he did not admonish them; and as by the post 
with which they had honoured him, he was obliged 
to have a watchful eye over their general interest; 
he was obliged to tell them his sentiments were, 
that the Dutch allured them to a dissolute way of 
life, that they might take some advantage over 
them: wherefore, as his brave companions, he was 
assured, would be guided by reason, he gave the 
Dutch notice, that the first whom he caught either 
with an oath in his mouth or liquor in his head, 
should be brought to the geers, whipped and pickled 
for an example to the rest of his nation; as to his 
friends, his companions, his children, those gal¬ 
lant, those generous, nooie, and heroic souls he 
had the honour to command, he entreated them to 
allow a small time for reflection, and to consider 
how little pleasure and how much danger, might 
flow from imitating the vices of their enemies ; and 
that they would among themselves, make a law for 
the suppression of vvliat would otherwise estrange 
them from the source of life, and consequently 
leave them destitute of his protection.” 

It is not to be imagined what efficacy this speech 
had on both nations; the Dutch grew continent in 
fear of punishment, and the French in fear of being 
reproached by their good captain, for they never 
mentioned him without this epithet. Upon the 
coast of Angola, they met with a second Dutch 
ship, the cargo of which consisted of silk and wool¬ 
len stuffs, cloth, lace, wine, brandy, oil, spice, and 


CAPTAIN MISSON. SI 

hardware : the prize gave chase and engaged her, 
but upon the coining up of the Victoire she struck. 
* his ship opportunely came in their way, and gave 
lull employ to the tailors, who were on board; for 
the whole crew began to be out at elbows; they 
plundered her of what was of use to their own ship, 
and then sunk her. 

The captain having about ninety prisoners on 
board, proposed the giving them the prize with 
what was necessary for their voyage, and sending 
them away; which being agreed to, they shifted 
he^ ammunition on board the Victoire, and giving 
them provisions to carry them to the settlements 
the Dutch have on the coast, Misson called them 
up, told them what was his design, and asked if any 
of them was willing to share his fortune: eleven 
Dutch came in to him, two, of whom were sail- 
makers, one an armourer, and one a carpenter, 
necessary hands; the rest he let go, not a little 
surprised at the regularity, tranquility, and hu¬ 
manity, which they found among these new 
fashioned pirates. 

They had now run the length of Saldanha bay, 
about ten leagues to the northward of Table Bay. 
As here is good water, safe riding, plenty of fish 
and fresh provision, to be got of the natives for the 
merchandise they had on board, it was resolved to 
stay here some little time for refreshments. When 
they had the bay open, they spied a tall ship, which 
instantly got under sail, and hove out English co¬ 
lours. The Victoire made clear ship, and hove out 
her French ensign, and a smart engagementbegan- 
TheEnglish was a new ship built for 40 guns, though 
she had but 3*2 mounted, and 90 hands. Misson 
gave orders for boarding, and the number of fiesh 
men he constantly poured in, after an obstinate dis¬ 
pute obliged the English to flv the decks, and leave 
the French masters of their ship, who promised, 


32 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

and gave them good quarters and stripped not 
a man. 

They found on board the prize some bales of 
English broadcloth, and about £60,000 in English 
crown pieces, and Spanish pieces of eight. The 
English captain was killed in the engagement, and 
14 of his men : the French lost 12, which was no 
small mortification, but did not however provoke 
them to use their prisoners harshly. Capt. Misson 
was sorry for the death of the commander, whom 
he buried on shore, and one of his men being a 
stone-cutter, he raised a stone over his grave with 
these words, “ Icy gist un brave Anglois ,” Here lies 
a gallant Englishman . When he was buried he 
made a triple discharge of fifty small arms, and 
fired minute guns. 

The English, knowing whose hands they were 
fallen into, and charmed with Misson’s humanity, 
30 of them, in three days space, desired to take on 
with him. He accepted them, but at the same time 
gave them to understand, that in taking on with 
him they were not to expect they should be indulg¬ 
ed in a dissolute and immoral life. He now divided 
his company between the two ships, and make Ca- 
raccioli captain of the prize, giving him officers 
chosen by the public suffrage. The 17 negroes be 
gan to understand a little French, and to be useful 
hands, and in less than a month all the English pri¬ 
soners came over to him, except their officers. 

He had two ships well manned with resolute fel- 
ows: they now doubled the cape, and made the 
3. end of Madagascar, and one of the Englishmen 
tellingCapt.Misson, that theEuropean ships bound 
for Surat, commonly touched at the island of Johan¬ 
na, he sent for Capt. Caraccioli on board, and it was 
agreed to cruise off that island. They accordingly 
sailed on the West side of Madagascar, and off the 
bay de Diego. About half seas over, between that 


Misson boarding the English. Page 3l. 








• V 



















































































































«• ft 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 33 

bay, and the island of Johanna, they came np with 
an English East-Indiaman, which made signals of 
distress as soon as she spied Misson and his prize : 
they found her sinking by an unexpected leak, and 
took all her men on board, though they could get 
little out of her before she went down. The Eng¬ 
lish, who were thus miraculously saved from per¬ 
ishing, desired to be set on shore at Johanna, 
where they hoped to meet with cither a Dutch or 
English ship in a little time, and the mean while 
they were sure of relief. 

They arrived at Johanna, and were kindly re¬ 
ceived by the Queen Regent and her brother, on 
account of the English on the one hand, and of 
their strength on the other, which the queen’s bro¬ 
ther, who had the administration of affairs, was not 
able to make head against, and hoped they might 
assist him against the king of Mohila, who threat¬ 
ened him with a visit. 

This is an island which is contiguous, in a man¬ 
ner, to Johanna, and lies about N. W. by N. from it. 
Caraccioli told Misson he might take his advantage 
in widening the breach between these two little 
monarchies, and, by offering his assistance to that 
of Johanna, in a manner rule both, for these would 
court him as their protector, and those come to any 
terms to buy his friendship, by which means he 
would hold the balance of power between them. 
He followedthis advice, and offered his friendship 
and assistance to the queen, who very readily em¬ 
braced it. 

I must advise the reader, that many of this island 
speak English, and that the Englishmen who were 
of Misson’s crew, and his interpreters, told them, 
their captain, though not an Englishman, was their 
friend and ally, and a friend and brother to the Jo- 
hannamen, for they esteemed the English beyond 
all other nations. 


34 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

They were supplied by the queen with all neces¬ 
saries of life, and Misson married her sister, as Ca- 
raccioli did the daugh ter of her brother, whose ar¬ 
moury, which consisted before of no more than two 
rusty fire-locks and three pistols, he furnished with 
30 fuzils, as many pair of pistols, and gave him two 
barrels of powder and four of ball. 

Several of his men took wives, and some required 
their share of the prizes, which was justly given 
them, they designing to settle in this island; but the 
number of these did not exceed ten, which loss was 
repaired by thirty of the crew (they had saved from 
perishing) coming in to him. 

While they past their time in all manner of diver¬ 
sions the place would afford them, as hunting, 
feasting, and visiting the island, the king ofMohila, 
made a descent, and alarmed the whole country. 
Misson advised the queen’s brother not to give him 
any impediment bu t let him get into the heart of the 
island, and he would take care to intercept their 
return; but the prince answered, should he follow 
this advice the enemy would do him iftid his sub¬ 
jects an irreparable damage, in destroying the co¬ 
coa walks, and for that reason he must endeavour 
to stop his progress. Upon this answer he asked the 
English who were not under his command, if they 
were willing to join him in repelling the enemies of 
their common host, and one and all consenting, he 
gave them arms, and mixed them with his own men, 
and about the same number of Johannians, under 
the command ofCaraccioli and the queen’s brother, 
and arming out all his boats, he went himself to the 
westward of the island, where they made their de¬ 
scent. The party which went by land, fell in with, 
and beat the Mohilians with great ease, who were 
in the greatest consternation, to find their retreat 
cut off by Misson’s boats. The Johannians, whom 
they had often molested, were so enraged, that they 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 35 

gave quarter to none, and out of 300 who made the 
descent, if Misson and Caraccioli had not interpos¬ 
ed, not a soul had escaped; 113 were taken prison¬ 
ers, by his men, and carried on board his ships. 
These lie sent safe to Mohila, with a message to the 
king, to desire he would make peace with his friend 
and ally the king of Johanna; but tliat prince, little 
affected with the service done him in the preserva¬ 
tion of his subjects, sent him word he took laws from 
none, and knew when to make war and peace with¬ 
out his advice, which he neither asked nor wanted. 
Misson irritated by this rude answer, resolved to 
transfer the war into his own country, and accord¬ 
ingly set sail for Mohila, with about 100 Johanna 
men. The shore on sight of the ships, was filled 
with men to hinder a descent if intended, but the 
great guns soon dispersed this rabble, and under 
their cover he landed the Johannians, and an equal 
number of French and English. They were met 
by about 700 Mohilians, who pretended to stop their 
passage, but their darts and arrows were of little 
avail against Misson’s fuzils; the first discharge 
made a great slaughter, and about 20 shells which 
were thrown among them, put them to a confused 
flight. The party of Europeans and Johannians 
then marched to their metropolis, without resist¬ 
ance, which they reduced to ashes, and the Johan¬ 
nians cut down all the cocoa walks that they could 
for the time, for towards evening they returned to 
their ships, and stood oft'to sea. 

At their return to Johanna the queen made a fes¬ 
tival, and magnified the bravery and service of her 
guests, friends, and allies. This feast lasted four 
days, at the expiration of which time the queen’s 
brother proposed to Capt. Misson the making an¬ 
other descent, in which lie would go in person, and 
did not doubt subjecting the Mohilians; but this 
was not the design of Misson, who had thoughts ot 



3(5 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

fixing a retreat on the N. W. side of Madagascar, 
and looked upon the feuds between these two 
islands advantageous to his views, and therefore no 
way his interest to suffer the one to overcome the 
other; for while the variance was kept up, and their 
forces pretty much upon' a level, it was evident 
their interest Avould make both sides caress him; he 
therefore answered, that they ought to deliberate 
on the consequences, for they might be deceived 
in their hopes, and find the conquest less easy than 
they imagined. That the king of Mohila would be 
more upon his guard, and not only intrench himself, 
but gall them with frequent ambuscades, by which 
they must inevitably lose a number of men; and, ii 
they were forced to retire with loss, raise the cour¬ 
age of the Mohilians, and make them irreconcilable 
enemies to the Johannians, and entirely deprive him 
of the advantages with which he might now make a 
peace, having twice defeated them: that he could 
not be alw T ays with them, and at his leaving Jo¬ 
hanna he might expect the king of Mohila would 
endeavour to take a bloody revenge for the late 
damages. The queen gave entirely into Misson’s 
sentiments. 

While this was in agitation, four Mohilians ar 
rived as ambassadors to propose a peace. Find 
ing the Johannians upon high terms, one of them 
spoke to this purpose :— O ye Johannians , do not 
conclude from you late success , that fortune will be 
always favourable ; she will not aliimys give you the 
protection of the Europeans , and without their help it 
is possible you might now sue for a peace , which you 
seem averse to. Remember the sun rises , comes to its 
meridian height , and stays not there , but declines in 
a moment. Let this admonish you to reflect on the 
constant revolution of all sublunary affairs , and the 
greater is your glory , the nearer you are to your 
declension. We are taught by every thing we see y 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 37 

that there is no stability in the world, hut nature is 
in continual movement. The sea, which overflows 
the sands, has its hounds set, which it cannot pass , 
which the moment it has reached, without abiding, re- 
£wr;/s hack to the bosom of the deep. Every herb , 
erery sArwi and tree, and even our own bodies teach us 
this lesson, that nothing is durable, or cun be counted 
upon. Time passes away insensibly, one sun follows 
another, and brings its changes with it. To-day's 
globe of light sees you strengthened by these Europe¬ 
ans elate with victory, and we, who have been used to 
conquer you, come to ask a peace. To-morrow's sun 
may see you deprived of your present succours, and 
the Johannians petitioning us: as therefore we can¬ 
not say what to-morrow may bring forth, it would be 
unwise on uncertain hopes to forego a certain advan¬ 
tage, as surely peace ought to be esteemed by every 
wise man. 

Having said this, the ambassadors withdraw, 
and were treated by the queen’s orders. After the 
council had concluded, they were again called up¬ 
on, and the queen told them, that by the advice of 
her good friends, the Europeans, and those of her 
council, she agreed to make peace, which she 
wished might banish all memory of former injuries; 
that they must own the war was begun by them, 
and that she was far from being the aggressor; 
she only defended herself in her own kingdom, 
which they had often invaded, though, till within a 
few days, she had never molested their coasts If 
then they really desired to live amicably with her, 
they must resolve to send two of the king’s chil¬ 
dren, and ten of the first nobility, as hostages : that 
they might, when they pleased, return, for these 
were the only terms on which she would desist 
prosecuting the advantages she now had, with 
the utmost vigour. 

The ambassadors returned with this answer, and, 
4 


38 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

about ten days after, the two ships appearing upon 
their coasts, they sent off to give notice, that their 
king complied with the terms proposed, would send 
the hostages, and desired a cessation of all hostility, 
and, at the same time, invited the commanders on 
shore. The Johanna men on board dissuaded their 
accepting the invitation ;but MissonandCaraccioli, 
fearing nothing, went, but armed their boat’s crew. 
They were received by the king with demonstra¬ 
tions of friendship, and they dined with him under a 
tamarind tree ; but when they parted from him, and 
were returning to their boats, they were inclosed by 
at least a hundred of the Mohilians, who set upon 
them with the utmost fury, and, in the first flight of 
arrows, wounded both the captains, and killed four 
of their boat’s crew, of eight who were with them. 
They, in return, discharged their pistols with some 
execution, and fell in with their cutlasses; but all 
their bravery would have stood them in little stead, 
had not the report of their pistols alarmed and 
brought the rest of their friends to their assistance, 
who took their fuzils, and coming up while they 
were engaged, discharged a volley on the back of 
the assailants, which laid twelve of them dead on 
the spot. The ships hearing this fire, stent imme¬ 
diately the yawls and long-boats well manned. 
Though the islanders were a little damped in their 
courage by this fire of the boat’s crew, yet they did 
not give over the fight, and one of them desperately 
threw himself upon Caraccioli, and gave him a deep 
wound in the side with a long knife; but he paid for 
the rashness of the attempt with his life, one of the 
crew cleaving his scull. The yawls and long-boats 
now arrived, and being guided by the noise, rein¬ 
forced their companions, put the traitors to flight, 
and brought off their dead and wounded. The 
Europeans lost by this treachery, seven slain out¬ 
right, and eight wounded, six of which recovered. 


CAPTAIN B1ISS0N. 39 

The crew were resolved to revenge the blood of 
their officers and comrades the next day, and were 
accordingly on the point of landing, when two 
canoes came off with two men bound, the pretend¬ 
ed authors of this treason, without the king’s know¬ 
ledge, who had sent them that they might receive 
the punishment due to their villany. The Johanna 
men on board were called for interpreters, who 
having given this account, added, that the king 
only sacrificed these men, hut that they should not 
believe him, for he certainly had given orders for as¬ 
sassinating the Europeans; and the better w r ay was 
to kill all the Mohillians that came in the canoes, 
as well as the two prisoners; go hack to Johanna, 
take more of their countrymen, and give no peace 
to traitors; but Misson was for no such violent 
measures; he was averse to every thing that bore 
the face of cruelty, and thought a bloody revenge, 
if necessity did not enforce it, spoke a grovelling 
and timid soul: he, therefore, sent those of the 
canoes back, and bid them tell their king, if before 
the evening he sent the hostages agreed upon, he 
should give credit to his excuse ; but if he did not, 
he should believe him the author of the late vile 
attempt on his life. 

The canoes w T ent off, but returned not with an 
answer; wherefore, he bid the Johanna men tell 
the two prisoners that they should be set on shore 
the next morning, and ordered them to acquaint 
their king, he w as no executioner to put those to 
death whom he had condemned, but that he should 
find he knew how to revenge himself of his trea¬ 
son. The prisoners being unbound, threw them¬ 
selves at his feet, and begged that he would not 
send them ashore, for they should be surely put to 
death, for the crime they had committed, was, the 
dissuading the barbarous action of which thev 
were accused as authors. 


40 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

Next day, the two ships landed 200 men, under 
the cover of their cannon; but that precaution of 
bringing their ships close to the shore, they found 
needless : not a soul appearing, they marched two 
leagues up the country, when they saw a body ot 
men appear behind some shrubs. Caraccioli’s lieu¬ 
tenant, who commanded the right wing, with fifty 
men, made up to them, but found he had got among 
pit-falls artificially covered, several of his men fall¬ 
ing into them, which made him halt, and not pursue 
those Mohilians who made a feint retreat to ensnare 
him, thinking it dangerous to proceed farther; and 
seeing no enemy would face them, they retired the 
same way they came, and getting into their boats, 
wents on board the ships, resolving to return with 
a strong reinforcement, and make descents at one 
and the same time in different parts of the island. 
They asked the two prisoners how the country lay, 
and what the soil was on the north side of the 
island; and they answered it was morass, and the 
most dangerous part to attempt, it being a place 
where they shelter on any imminent danger. 

The ships returned to Johanna, where the great¬ 
est tenderness and care was shown for the reco¬ 
very and cure of the two captains and of their men; 
they lay six weeks before they were able to walk 
the decks, for neither of them would quit his ship. 
Their Johanna wives expressed a concern they did 
not think them capable of; nay, a wife of one of the 
wounded men who died, stood some time looking 
upon the corpse as motionless as a statue, then 
embracing it, without shedding a tear, desired she 
might take it ashore to wash and bury it; and at 
the same time by an interpreter, and with a little 
mixture of European language, begged her late 
husband’s friends would take their leave of him 
the next day. 

Accordingly a number went ashore, and carried 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 41 

with them the dividend, which fell to his share, 
which the captain ordered to be given to his wi¬ 
dow ; when she saw the money, she smiled, and 
asked if all that was for her ?—Being answered in 
the affirmative, “and what good will all that shin¬ 
ing dirt do me? If I could with it purchase the life 
of my husband, and call him back from the grave, I 
would accept it with pleasure, but as it is not suffi¬ 
cient to allure him hack to this world, I have no use 
for it; do with it what you please.” Then she de¬ 
sired they would go with her and perform the last 
ceremonies to her husband’s dead body, after their 
country fashion, lest he should be displeased ; that 
she could not stay with them, to be a witness, be¬ 
cause she was in haste to go and be married again. 
She startled the Europeans who heard this latter 
part of her speech, so dissonant from the begin¬ 
ning ; however they followed her, and she led them 
into a plantain walk, where they found a great ma¬ 
ny Johanna men and women, sitting under the 
shade of plantains, round the corpse, which lay 
(as they all sat) on the ground, covered with flow¬ 
ers. She embraced them round, and then the 
Europeans, one by one, and after these ceremo¬ 
nies, she poured out a number of hitter impreca¬ 
tions against the Moliila men, whose treachery 
had darkened her husband’s eyes, and made him 
insensible of her caresses, who was her first love, 
to whom she had given her heart with her virgi¬ 
nity. She then proceeded in his praises, calling 
him the joy of infants, the love of virgins, the de¬ 
light of the old, and the wonder of the young, 
adding, he was strong and beautiful as the cedar, 
brave as the bull, tender as the kid, and loving as 
the ground turtle. Having finished this oration, 
not unlike those of the Romans, which the nearest 
relation of the deceased used to pronounce from 
the rostrum, she laid down by the side of herhus- 


42 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

band, embracing him, and sitting up again, gave 
herself a deep wound under the left breast with a 
bayonet, and fell dead on her husband’s corpse. 

The Europeans were astonished at the tender¬ 
ness and the resolution of the girl, for she was not, 
by what her mien spoke her, past seventeen; and 
they now admired, as much as they had secretly 
detested her, for saying she was in haste to be mar¬ 
ried again, the meaning of which they did not 
understand. 

After the husband and wife were buried, the 
crew returned on board, and gave an account of 
what had passed; the captain’s wives (for Misson 
and his were on board the Bijoux, the name they 
had given their prize from her make and gilding) 
seemed not in the least surprised, and Oaraccioli’s 
lady only said, she must be of noble descent, for 
none but the families of the nobility had the privi¬ 
lege allowed them of following their husbands, on 
pain if they transgressed, of being thrown into the 
sea, to be eat by fish; and they knew that their souls 
could not rest as long as any of the fish, who fed up¬ 
on them, lived. Misson asked, if they intended to 
have done the same thing had they died? “We 
should not,” answered his wife, “ have disgraced 
our families; nor is our tenderness for our hus¬ 
band’s inferior to hers whom you seem to admire.” 

After their recovery, Misson proposed a cruise, 
on the coast of Zanguebar, which being agreed to, 
he and Caraccioli, took leave of the queen and her 
brother, and would have left their wives on the 
island, but they could by no means be induced to 
the separation; it was in vain to urge the shortness 
of the time they were to cruise ; they answered it 
was not farther than Moliila they intended to go, 
and if they were miserable in that short absence, 
they could never support a longer; and if they 
would not allow them to keep them company in the 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 43 

voyage, they must not expect to see them at their 
return, if they intended one. 

In a word, they were obliged to yield to them, but 
told them, if the views of their men should insist as 
strongly on following their example, their tender¬ 
ness would be their ruin, and make them a prey to 
their enemies ; they answered, the queen should 
prevent that, by ordering that no woman should go 
on board, and if any were in the ships, they should 
return on shore: this order was accordingly made, 
and they set sail for the river Mozambique. In 
about ten days’ cruise after they had left Johanna, 
and about 15 leagues to the eastward of this river, 
they fell in with a stout Portuguese ship of 60 guns, 
which engaged them from break of day till two in 
the afternoon, when the captain being killed, and a 
great number of men lost, she struck ; this proved a 
very rich prize, for she had the value of £250,000 
sterling on board, in gold dust. The two women 
never quit the decks all the time of the engagement, 
neither gave they the least mark of fear except for 
their husbands, This engagement cost them 30 
men, and Caraccioli lost his right leg; the slaughter 
fell mostly on the English, for of the above number, 
20 were of that nation : the Portuguese lost double 
the number. Caraccioli’s wound made them re¬ 
solve to make the best of their way for Johanna, 
where the greatest care was taken of their wound¬ 
ed, not one of whom died, though their number 
amounted to 27. 

Caraccioli kept his bed two months; but Misson 
seeing him in a fair way of recovery, took what 
hands could be spared from the Bijoux, leaving her 
sufficient for defence, and went out, having mount¬ 
ed ten of the Portuguese guns, for he had hitherto 
carried but thirty, though he had ports for forty. 
He stretched over to Madagascar, and coasted 
along this island to the northward, as far as the 


44 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

most northerly point, when turning back, h e entered 
a bay to the northward of DiegoSuares. He run ten 
leagues up this bay, and on the larboard side found 
it afforded a large, and safe harbour, with plenty of 
fresh water. He came to an anchor, went on shore 
and examined the nature of the soil, which he found 
rich, the air wholesome,' and the country level. He 
told his men this was an excellent place for an asy¬ 
lum, and that he determined here to fortify and 
raise a small town, and make docks for shipping, 
that they might have some place to call their own; 
and a receptacle, when age or wounds had render¬ 
ed them incapable of hardship, where they might 
enjoy the fruits of their labour, and go to their 
graves in peace: that he would not, however, set 
about this, till he had the approbation of the whole 
company; and were he sure they would all approve 
this design, which he hoped, it being evidently for 
the general good, he should not think it advisable 
to begin any works, lest the natives should, in his 
absence, destroy them; but, however, as they had 
nothing upon their hands, if they were of his opini¬ 
on, they might begin to fall and square timber, rea¬ 
dy for the raising a wooden fort, when they return 
ed with their companions. 

The captain’s motion was universally applaud¬ 
ed, and in ten days they felled and rough hewed a 
hundred and fifty large trees, without any interrup¬ 
tion from or seeing any of the inhabitants. They 
felled their timber at the waters’ edge, so that they 
had not the trouble of hauling them any way, which 
would have employed a great deal more time: they 
returned again, and acquainted their companions 
with what they had seen and done, and with the 
captain’s resolution, which they one and all came 
into. 

Capt. Misson then told the queen, as he had been 
serviceable to her in her war with the island of 


Bailie between the Bijoux and a Portuguese ship. Page 43 . 








































































CAPTAIN MISSON. 45 

Mohila, and might continue to be of farther use, he 
did not question her lending him assistance in the 
settling himself on the coast of Madagascar, and to 
that end furnish'him with 3^ men, to help in his 
buildings. The queen answered, she could do 
nothing without consent of council, and that she 
would assemble her nobility, and did not question 
their agreeing to anything he could reasonably de¬ 
sire, for they were sensible of the obligations the 
Johannians had to him. The council was accord¬ 
ingly called, and Misson’s demand being told, one 
of the eldest said, he did not think it expedient to 
comply with it, nor safe to refuse; that they should 
in agreeing to give him that assistance, help to 
raise a power, which might prove formidable to 
themselves, by the being so near a neighbour; and 
these men who had lately protected, might, when 
they found it for their interest, enslave them. On 
the other hand, if they did not comply, they had the 
power to do them great damage : that they were 
to make choice of the least of two possible evils, 
for he could prognosticate no good to Johanna, 
by their settling near it. Another answered, that 
many of them had Johanna wives: that it was not 
likely they would make enemies of the Johanna 
men at the first settling, because their friendship 
might be of use to them; and from their children 
there was nothing to be apprehended in the next 
generation, for they would be half their own blood; 
that in the mean while, if they complied with the 
request, they might be sure of an ally and protector 
against the king of Mohila; wherefore, he was for 
agreeing to the demand. 

After a long debate, in which every inconve¬ 
nience and advantage was maturely considered, it 
was agreed to send with him the number of men he 
required, on condition he should send them back in 
four moons, make an alliance with them, and war 


46 CAPTAIN MISSON. 

against Mohila. This being agreed to, tney staid 
till Caraccioli was thoroughly recovered: then put¬ 
ting the Johannians on board the Portuguese ship, 
with forty French and English, and fifteen Portu¬ 
guese to work her, *md setting sail, they arrived at 
the place where Misson designed his settlement, 
which he called Libertatia , and gave the name of 
Liberi to his people, desiring in that might be 
drowned the distinguished names of French, Eng¬ 
lish, Dutch, Africans, &c 

The first thing they set about was, the raising a 
fort on each side the harbour, which they made of 
an octagon figure, and having finished and mounted 
them with forty guns taken out of the Portuguese, 
they raised a battery on an angle, of ten guns, and 
began to raise houses and magazines under the 
protection of their forts and ships ; the Portuguese 
was unrigged, and all her sails and cordage care¬ 
fully laid up. While they were very busily employed 
in the raising a town, a party which had often hunt¬ 
ed and rambled four or five leagues off their set¬ 
tlement, resolved to venture farther into the coun¬ 
try. They made themselves some huts, at about 
four leagues distance from their companions, and 
travelled E. S. E. about five leagues farther into 
the country, when they came up with a black, who 
was armed with a bow, arrows, and a javelin: they 
with a friendly appearance engaged the fellow to 
lay by his fear, and go with them. They carried 
him to their companions, and there entertained 
him three days with a great deal of humanity, and 
then returned with him near the place they found 
him, and made him a present of a piece of scarlet 
baize, and an axe. He appeared overjoyed with 
the present, and left them with seeming satisfac¬ 
tion. 

The hunters imagined that there might be some 
village not far olf, and observing that he looked at 


CAPTAIN MISSON. 47 

the sun, and then took his way directly south, they 
travelled on the same point of the.compass, and 
from the top of a hill they spied a pretty large 
village, and went down to it: the men came out 
with their arms, such as before described, bows, 
arrows, and javelins ; but upon two only of the 
whites advancing, with presents of axes and baize 
in their hands, they sent only four to meet them. 
The misfortune was, that they could not understand 
one another: but by their pointing to the sun, 
and holding up one finger, and making one of them 
go forward, and return again with snowing their 
circumcision, and pointing up to heaven with one 
finger, they apprehended they gave them to under¬ 
stand there was but one God, who had sent one 
prophet, and concluded from thence, and their cir¬ 
cumcision, they were Mahometans. The presents 
were carried to their chief, and he seemed to re¬ 
ceive them kindly, and by signs invited the whites 
into their village; but they remembering the late 
treachery of the Mohilians, made signs for victuals 
to be brought to them where they were. 

OCr* The remainder of Captain Mis son's History will 
be found incorporated with that of Captain Teio. 


48 


CAPTAIN BOWEN. 


CAPTAIN JOHN BOWEN. 


The exact time of this person’s setting out I am 
not certain of. I find him cruising on the Malabar 
coast in the year 1700, commanding a ship called 
the Speaker, whose crew consisted of men of all na¬ 
tions, and their piracies were committed upon ships 
of all nations likewise. The pirates here met with 
no manner of inconveniencies in carrying on their 
designs, for it was made so much a trade, that the 
merchants of one town never scrupled the buying 
commodities taken from another, though but ten 
miles distant, in a public sale, furnishing the rob¬ 
bers at the same time with all necessaries, even of 
vessels, when they had occasion to go on any ex¬ 
pedition, which they themselves would often advise 
them of. 

Among the rest, an English East-Indiaman, Capt. 
Coneway,from Bengal, fell into the hands of this 
crew, which they made prize of, near Callequilon. 
They carried her in, and put her up to sale, divid¬ 
ing the ship and cargo into three shares ; one third 
was sold to a merchant, native of Callequilon afore¬ 
said, another third to a merchant of Porca, and the 
other to one Malpa, a Dutch factor. 

Loaded with the spoil of this and several country 
ships they left the coast, and steered for Madagas¬ 
car; but in their voyage thither, meeting with ad¬ 
verse w T inds, and, being negligent in their steerage, 
they ran upon St. Thomas’s reef, at the island of 
Mauritius, where the ship was lost; but Bowen and 
the greatest part of the crew got safe ashore. 

They met here with all the civility and good 
treatment imaginable. Bowen was complimented 



CAPTAIN BOWEN. 49 

in a particlar manner by the governor, and splen¬ 
didly entertained in his house ; the sick men were 
got, with great care, into the fort, and cured by 
their doctor, and no supplies of any sort, wanting 
for the rest. They spent here three months, but yet 
resolving to set down at Madagascar, they bought 
a sloop, which they converted into a brigantine, 
and about the middle of March, 1701, departed, 
having first taken formal leave of the governor, by 
making a present of 2500 pieces of eight; leaving 
him, besides, the wreck of their ship, with the guns, 
stores, and every thing else that was saved. The 
governor, on his part, supplied them with necessa¬ 
ries for their voyage, which was but short, and gave 
them a kind invitation to make that island a place 
of refreshment in the course of their future adven¬ 
tures, promising that nothing should be wanting to 
them that his government afforded. 

Upon their arrival at Madagascar, they put in at 
a place on the east side, called Maritan, quit their 
vessel, and settled themselves ashore in a fruitful 
plain on the side of a river. They built themselves 
a fort on the river’s mouth, towards the sea, and 
another small one on the other side, towards the 
country; the first to prevent a surprise from ship¬ 
ping, and the other as a security from the natives, 
many of whom they employed in the building. 
They built also a little town for their habitation, 
which took up the remainder of the year 1701. 

When this was done, they soon became dissatis¬ 
fied with their new situation, having a hankering 
mind after their old employment, and accordingly 
resolved to lit up the brigantine they had from the 
Dutch at Mauritius, which was laid in a cove near 
their settlement; hut an accident, that they im¬ 
proved, provided for them in abetter manner, and 
saved them a great deal of trouble. 

It happened that about the beginning of the year 


50 CAPTAIN BOWEN 

1702, a ship called the Speedy Return, belonging 
to the Scq tch-African and East-India company, 
Capt. Drummoud, commander, came into the port 
of Marrtan in Madagascar, with a brigantine that 
belonged to her; they had before taken in negroes 
at St. Mary’s, a little island adjoining to the main 
land of Madagascar, and carried them to Don Mas- 
carenhas, from whence they sailed to this port on 
the same trade. 

On the ship’s arrival, Capt. Drummond, with An¬ 
drew Wilky, his surgeon, and several others of the 
crew, went on shore ; in the mean time John Bow¬ 
en, with four others of his consorts, went off in a 
little boat, on pretence of buying some of their mer¬ 
chandise brought from Europe: and finding a fair 
opportunity, the chiefmate, boatswain, and a hand 
or two more only upon deck, and the rest at work 
in the hold they threw ofif their mask; each drew T 
out a pistol and hanger, and told them they were 
all dead men if they did not retire that moment 
to the cabin. The surprise w T as sudden, and they 
thought it necessary to obey: one of the pirates 
placed himself sentry at the door, with his arms in 
his hands, and the rest immediately laid the hatch¬ 
es, and then made a signal to their fellows on 
shore as agreed on; upon which, about forty or fifty 
came on board, and took quiet possession of the 
ship, and afterwards the brigantine, without blood¬ 
shed, or striking a stroke. Bow en was made, or 
rather made himself, of course, captain; he detain¬ 
ed the old crew, or the greatest part thereof, burnt 
the Dutch brigantine as being of no use to them, 
cleaned and fitted the ship, took w T ater, provisions, 
and what necessaries were wanting, and made rea¬ 
dy for new adventures. 

Having thus piratically possessed himself of 
Capt. Drummond’s ship and brigantine, and being 
informed by the crew, that when they left Don Mas- 


r 


CAPTAIN BOWEN. 51 

carenhas, a ship called the Rook galley, Capt. Ho¬ 
neycomb, commander, was lying in that bay, Bowen 
resolved, with the other pirates, to sail thither, bat 
it taking up seven or eight days in watering their 
vessels, and settling their private affairs, they ar¬ 
rived not at the island till after the departure of the 
said galley, who thereby happily escaped the vil¬ 
laneous snare of their unprovoked enemies. 

The night after the pirates left Maritan, the brig¬ 
antine ran on a ledge of rocks off the west side of 
the island of Madagascar, which not being perceived 
by the ship, Bowen came into Mascarenhas without 
her, not knowing what was become of his consort. 
Here he stayed eight or ten days, in which time he 
supplied the ship with provisions, and judging that 
the Rook galley was gone to some other island, the 
ship sailed to Mauritius, in search of her; but the 
pirates seeing four or five ships in the N. W. har¬ 
bour, they thought themselves too weak to attempt 
any thing there ; so they stood immediately for 
Madagascar again, and arrived safe, first at Port 
Dauphin and then at Augustin Bay. In a few days 
theContent brigantine, which they supposed either 
to have been lost, or revolted that honourable ser¬ 
vice, came into the same bay, and informed their 
brethren of the misfortune that happened to them. 

The rogues were glad, no doubt, of seeing one 
another again, and calling a council together, they 
found the brigantine in no condition lor business, 
being then very leaky; therefore she was con¬ 
demned, and forthwith hauled ashore and burnt, 
and the crew united, and all went on board the 
Speedy Return. 

At this place the pirates were made acquainted, 
by the negroes, of the adventures of another gang 
that had settled for some time near that harbour, 
and had one Howard for their captain. It was the 
misfortune of an India ship called the Prosperous, 


52 CAPTAIN BOWEN, 

to come into the bay at the time that these rogues 
were looking out for employment; who under the 
pretence of trading (almost in the same manner that 
Bowen and his gang had seized the SpeedyReturn) 
made themselves master of her, and sailed with 
her to New Matlielage. Bowen and his gang con¬ 
sulting together on this intelligence, concluded it 
was more for their interest to join in alliance with 
this new company, than to act single, they being too 
weak of themselves to undertake any considerable 
enterprise, remembering how they were obliged to 
bear away from the island of Mauritius, when they 
were in search of theRook galley, which they might 
have taken, with several others, had they had, at 
that time, a consort of equal force to their own ship. 

They accordingly set sail from the bay, and came 
into New Mathelage, but found no ship there, 
though upon enquiry they understood that the pi¬ 
rate they looked for, had been at the place, hut was 
gone ; so after some stay they proceeded to Johan¬ 
na, but the Prosperous not being there neither, 
they sailed to Mayotta, where they found her lying 
at anchor. This was about Christmas, 1702. 

Here these two powers struck up an alliance. 
Howard liking the proposals, came readily into it, 
and the treaty was ratified by both companies. 
They stayed about two months at this island, 
thinking it, perhaps, as likely a place to meet with 
prey as cruising out for it, and so indeed it happen¬ 
ed ; for about the beginning of March, the ship 
Pembroke, belonging to our East-Xndia company, 
coming in for water, was boarded by their boats, 
and taken, with the loss of the chief mate and an¬ 
other man that were killed in the skirmish. 

The two pirate ships weighed, and went out to 
sea along with their prize, and that day and the 
next plundered her of the best part of her cargo, 
provisions, and stores* and then taking the captain 



CAPTAIN BOWEN. 53 

and carpenter away, they let the Pembroke go 
where the remainder of her crew pleased, and came 
with their ships into New Math el age. Here the 
two captains consulted, and laid a plan for a cruise 
to India, for which purpose they detained Capt. 
Wooley, of the Pembroke, lately taken, in order to 
be their pilot in those seas ; but a very hot dispute 
arose between the two companies which ship he 
should go aboard of, insomuch that they had gone 
together by the ears, if an expedient had not been 
found to satisfy each party, that one might not have 
the advantage of the other by the captain’s skill 
and knowledge of the Indian coast, and this was to 
knock the poor man on the head, and murder him: 
but at last, by the authority of Bowen, Capt. Wool- 
ley escaped the threatened danger, by bringing his 
company to consent to his remaining on board the 
Prosperous, where he then was. 

The Speedy Return being foul, and wanting a 
little repair was judged proper for her to go back 
to Augustin Bay to clean; in the mean while the 
Prosperous was to have a pair of boot-tops where 
she lay, and likewise to take in water and provi¬ 
sions, and then to join their consort again at May- 
otta, the island appointed for the rendezvous. 

The Prosperous put into Mayotta as agreed on, 
and waiting there some time for Bowen’s ship,with¬ 
out seeing or hearing any news of her, went to Jo¬ 
hanna, but not meeting with her there, they appre¬ 
hended some accident had befell her, and therefore 
left the place, and sailed on the expedition them¬ 
selves. As to the Speedy Return, she arrived safe 
at St. Augustin Bay, at Madagascar, and there 
cleaned and victualled ; but tarrying there some¬ 
what too long, the winds hung contrary, and they 
could not for their lives beat up to Mayotta, and 
therefore went up to Johanna, where, hearing that 
their friends had lately left that Island, they steered 


54 CAPTAIN BOWEN, 

for the Red Sea, but the wind not proving fair for 
their design, they bore away for the high land of 
St. John’s near Surat, where they once more fell 
in company with their brethren of the Prosperous. 

They cruisdd together as was first agreed on, 
and after some time they had sight of four ships, 
to which they gave chase; but these separating, 
two standing to the northward, and two to the 
southward, the pirates separated likewise, Bowen 
standing after those that steerbd southerly, and 
Howard crowding after the others. Bowen came up 
with the heaviest of the two, which proved to be a 
Moorish ship of 700 tons, bound from the Gulf of 
Mocha to Surat. The pirates brought the prize in¬ 
to Rajapora, on the coast of India, where they plun¬ 
dered her; the merchandise they sold to the na¬ 
tives, but a small sum of current gold they found 
aboard, amounting to £22,000 English money, they 
put into their pockets. Two days after, the Pros¬ 
perous came in, but without any prize ; however, 
they soon made their friends acquainted that they 
had not succeeded worse than themselves, for at 
Surat river’s mouth, where all the four ships were 
bound, they came up with their chase, and with a 
broad side, one of them struck, but the other got 
into the bay. They stood down the coast wiili the 
prize till they had plundered her of the best of her 
cargo, the most valuable of which was 84,000 se¬ 
quins, apiece of about ten shillings each, and then 
they left her adrift, without either anchor or cable, 
off Daman. 

While they were lying at Rajapora they passed a 
survey on their shipping, and judging their own to 
be less serviceable than their prize, they voted them 
to the flames, and straightway fitted up the Surat 
ship. They transported both companies aboard of 
her, and then set fire to the Prosperous and Speedy 
Return. They mustered at this place 104 fighting 


CAPTAIN BOWEN. 55 

men; 43 only were English, the greater number 
French, the rest Danes, Swedes, and Dutch. They 
took on board 70 Indians to do the drudgery of the 
ship, and mounted56 guns, calling her theDefiance, 
and sailed fromRajapora the latter end of October, 
in the year 1703 to cruise on the coast of Malabar. 
But not meeting with prey in this first cruise, they 
came to an anchor about tla*ee leagues to the 
northward of Cochen,expecting some boats to come 
off with supplies of refreshments,for which purpose 
they fired several guns, by way of signal, but none 
appearing, the quarter-master was sent in the pin¬ 
nace to confer with the people, which he did with 
some caution, keeping the boat upon their oars at 
the shore side. In short, they agreed very well, 
the pirates were promised whatever necessaries 
they wanted, and the boat returned aboard. 

The next day a boat came off from the town 
with hogs, goats, wine, Sc c. w ith a private intima¬ 
tion from Malpa, the Dutch broker, an old friend of 
the pirates, thqrt a ship of that country called the 
Rhimae, lay then in Mudbay, not many leagues off, 
and if they would go out and take her Jie would 
purchase the caigo of them, and likewise promised 
that they should be further supplied with pitch, 
tar, and all other necessaries, which was made 
good to them ; for people from the factory flocked 
aboard every hour, and dealt with them as in open 
market, for all sorts of merchandise, refreshments, 
jewels,' and plate, returning with coffers of money, 
See. to a great value. 

The advice of the ship was taken very kindly, but 
the pirates judging their own ship too large to go 
close into the bay, consulted their friend upon 
means for taking the said ship, who readily treated 
w ith them for the sale of one of less burthen, that 
then lay in the harbour; but Malpa speaking to one 
Punt, of the factory, to carry her out, he not only 


56 CAPTAIN KIDD, 

refused to be concerned in such a piece of villany, 
but reproved Malpa for corresponding with the 
pirates, and told him, if he should be guilty of so 
base an action, he must never see the face ot any 
of his countrymen more ; which made the honest 
broker change both his countenance and his pur¬ 
pose. 

At this placeOapt. Woolley,whom they had taken 
for their pilot on the Indian coast, being in a very 
sick and weak condition, was, at his earnest en¬ 
treaty, discharged from his severe confinement 
among them, and set ashore, and the next day the 
pirates sailed, and ranged along the Malabar coast, 
in quest of more booty. In their way they met a 
second time with the Pembroke, and plundered 
her of some sugar, and other small things, and 
let her go again. From the coast they sailed 
back for the Island of Mauritius, where they lay 
some time, and lived after their usual extrava¬ 
gant manner. 


CAPTAIN ROBERT KIDD. 


We are now going to give an account of one 
whose name is well known in England. The per¬ 
son we mean isCapt. Kidd, whose public trial and 
execution here, rendered him the subject of all con¬ 
versation, so that his actions have been chanted 
about in ballads. However, it is now a consider¬ 
able time since these things passed, and though the 
people knew in general thatCapt.Kiddwas hanged, 





CAPTAIN KIDD. 57 

and that his crime was piracy, yet there were 
scarce any, even at that time, who were acquainted 
with hi s life or actions, or could account for his turn¬ 
ing pirate. 

In the beginning of king William’s war, Capt. 
Kidd commanded a privateer in the West-Indies, 
and by several adventurous actions acquired the 
# reputation of a brave man, as well as an experienc¬ 
ed seaman. About this time the pirates were very 
troublesome in those parts: wherefore Capt. Kidd 
was recommended by the Lord Bellamont, then 
governor of Bardadoes, as well as by several other 
persons, to the government here, as a person very 
fit to be entrusted with the command of a govern¬ 
ment ship, and to be employed in cruising upon the 
pirates, as knowing those seas perfectly well, and 
being acquainted with all their lurking places; 
but what reasons governed the politics of those 
times I cannot tell, but this proposal met with no 
encouragement here, though it is certain it would 
have been of great consequence to the subject, our 
merchants suffering incredible damages by those 
robbers. 

Upon this neglect, the lord Bellamont and some 
others, who knew what great captures had been 
made by the pirates, and what a prodigious wealth 
must be in their possessions, were tempted to fit out 
a ship at their owh private charge, and to give the 
command of her to Capt. Kidd; and to give the 
thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep their 
seamen under the better command, they procured 
the king’s commission for the said Capt. Kidd, of 
which the following is an exact copy: 

William Rex- 

« William the Third, by the grace of God, 
King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, 
defender of the faith, Ac. To our trusty and well 





38 CAPTAIN KIDD. 

belovedCapt. RobertKidd, commander of the ship 
the Adventure galley, or to any other the com¬ 
mander of the-same for the time being, Greeting : 
Whereas we are informed, that Capt. Thomas Too, 
John Ireland, Capt Thomas Wake, and Capt. Wil¬ 
liam Maze, or Mace, and other subjects, natives or 
inhabitants of New-York, and elsewhere, in our 
plantations inAmerica, have associated themselves . 
with divers others, wicked and ill-disposed persons, 
and do against the law of nations commit many 
and great piracies, robberies, and depredations on 
the seas upon the parts of America, and in other 
parts, to the great hindrance and discouragement of 
trade and navigation, and to the great danger and 
hurt of our loving subjects, our allies, and all others, 
navigating the seas upon their lawfhl occasions. 
Now know ye, that we being desirous to prevent 
the aforesaid mischiefs, and as much as in us lies, 
to bring the said pirates,free-booters and sea-rovers 
to justice, have thought fit, and do hereby give and 
grant to the said Robert Kidd (to whom our com¬ 
missioners for exercising the office of Lord High 
Admiral of England, have granted a commission as 
a private man of war, bearing date the 11th day of 
December, 1695,) and unto the commander of the 
said ship for th e time being,and unto the officers,ma¬ 
riners, and others, which shall be under your com¬ 
mand, full power and authority to apprehend, seize, 
and take into your custody as well the said Capt. 
ThomasToo,Johnlreland,Capt.ThomasWake,and 
Capt. WilliamMaze,orMace,as all such pirates,free¬ 
booters, and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, 
or ofother nations associated with them, which you 
shall meet with upon the seas or coasts of America, 
or upon any other seas or coasts,with all their ships 
and vessels, and all such merchandise, money, 
goods, and wares as shall be found on board, or with 
them, in case they shall willingly yield themselves; 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 59 

but if they will not yield without fighting, then you 
are by force to compel them to yield. And we also 
require you to bring, or cause to be brought, such 
pirates, free-booters, or sea-rovers, as you shall 
seize, to a legal trial, to the end they may be pro¬ 
ceeded against according to the law in such cases. 
And we do hereby command all our officers, minis¬ 
ters, and other our loving subjects whatsoever, to 
be aiding and assisting to you in the premises. 
And we do hereby enjoin you to keep an exact 
journal of your proceedings in the execution of the 
premises, and set down the names of such pirates, 
and of their officers and company, and the names of 
such ships and vessels as you shall by virtue of 
these presents take and seize, and the quantities of 
arms, ammunition, provision, and lading of such 
ships, and the true value of the same, as near as you 
judge. And we do hereby strictly charge and com¬ 
mand you, as you will answer the contrary at your 
beril, that you do not, in any manner, offend or mo¬ 
lest our friends or allies, their ships or subjects, by 
colour or pretence of these presents, or the autho¬ 
rity thereby granted. In witness whereof, we have 
caused our great seal of England to be affixed to 
these presents. Given at our court at Kensington, 
the 26th day of January, 1695, in the 7th year of 
our reign.” 

Capt.Kidd had also another commission, which 
was called a commission of reprisals; for it being 
then war time, this commission was to justify him 
in the taking of French merchant ships, in case 
he should meet with any ; but as this commission 
is nothing to our present purpose, we shall not 
burthen the reader with it. 

With these two commissions he sailed out of 
Plymouth in May, 1696, in the Adventure galley, 
of 30 guns, and 80 men; the place he first designed 


60 CAPTAIN KIDD, 

for was New York ; in his voyage thither he took 
a French banker, but this was no act of piracy, he 
having a commission for that purpose, as we have 
just observed. 

When he arrived at New York, he put up articles 
for engaging more hands, it being necessary to his 
ship’s crew, since he proposed to deal with a des¬ 
perate enemy. The terms he offered were, that 
every man should have a share of what was taken, 
reserving for himself and owners forty shares. 
Upon which encouragement he soon increased his 
company to 155 men. 

With this company he sailed first for Madeira, 
where he took in wine and some other necessaries; 
from thence he proceeded to Bonavista, one of the 
Cape-de-Verd Islands, to furnish the ship with salt, 
and from thence went immediately to St. Jago, 
another of the Cape-de-Verd Islands, in order to 
stock himself with provisions. When all this was 
done, he bent his course to Madagascar, the known 
rendezvous of pirates. In his way he fell in with 
Capt. Warren, commodore of three men of war: 
he acquainted him with his design, kept them 
company two or three days, and then leaving them, 
made the best of his way for Madagascar, where he 
arrived in February, 1696, just nine months from 
his departure from Plymouth. # 

It happened that at this time the pirate ships 
were most of them out in search of prey; so that 
according to the best intelligence Capt. Kidd could 
get, there was not one of them at that time about 
the island: wherefore, having spent some time in 
watering his ship and taking in more provisions, he 
thought of trying his fortune on the coast of Mala¬ 
bar, where he arrived in the month of June follow¬ 
ing, four months from his reaching Madagascar. 
Hereabouts he made an unsuccessful cruise, touch¬ 
ing sometimes at the island of Mohila, and some- 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 61 

times at that of Johanna, between Malabar and 
Madagascar. His provisions were every day wast¬ 
ing, and his ship began to want repair: wherefore, 
when he was at Johanna, he found means of’bor¬ 
rowing a sum of money from some Frenchmen who 
had lost their ship, but saved their effects, and 
with this he purchased materials for putting his 
ship in good repair. 

It does not appear all this while that he had the 
least design of turning pirate; for near Mohila and 
Johanna both, he met with several Indian ships 
richly laden, to which he did not offer the least 
violence, though he was strong enough to have 
done what he pleased with them; and first out¬ 
rage or depredation I find he committed upon man¬ 
kind, was after his repairing his ship, and leaving 
Johanna ; he touched at a place called Mabbee, up¬ 
on the Red Sea, where he took some Guinea corn 
from the natives, by force. After this, he sailed to 
Bab’s Key, a place upon a little island at the 
entrance of the Red Sea. Here it was that he 
first began to open himself to his ship’s company, 
and let them understand that he intended to change 
his measures; for, happening to talk of the Mocha 
fleet, which was to sail that way, he said, We have 
been unsuccessful hitherto; hut courage , my hoys , 
we'll make our fortunes out of this fleet; and finding 
that none of them appeared averse to it, lie ordered 
a boat out, well manned, to go upon the coast to 
make discoveries, commanding them to take a 
prisoner and bring to him, or get intelligence any 
way they could. The boat returned in a few days, 
bringing him word, that they saw fourteen or fif¬ 
teen ships ready to sail, some with English, some 
with Dutch, and some with Moorish colours. 

We cannot account for thifc sudden change in his 
conduct, otherwise than by supposing that he first 
meant well, while lie had hopes of making his for- 
6 




62 CAPTAIN KIDD, 

tune by taking of pirates; but now weary of ill 
success, and fearing lest his owners, out of hnmour 
at their great expenses, should dismiss him, and he 
should want employment, and be marked out for 
an unlucky man ; rather, I say, than run the hazard 
of poverty, he resolved to do his business one 
way, since he could not do it another. 

He therefore ordered a man continually to watch 
at the mast head, lest this fleet should go by them; 
and about four days after, towards evening, it 
appeared in sight, being convoyed by one English 
and one Dutch man of war, Kidd soon fell in with 
them, and getting into the midst of them, fired at a 
Moorish ship which was next him ; but the men of 
war taking the alarm, bore down upon Kidd, and 
firing upon him, obliged him to sheer off, he not 
being strong enough to contend with them. Now 
he had begun hostilities, he resolved to go on, and 
therefore he went and cruised along the coast 
of Malabar. The first prize he met was a small 
vessel belonging to Aden r the vessel was Moorish, 
and the owners were Moorish merchants, but the 
master was an Englishman; his name was Parker. 
Kidd forced him and a Portuguese that was called 
Don Antonio, which were all the Europeans on 
board, to take on with him ; the first he designed 
as a pilot, and the last as an interpreter. He also 
used the men very cruelly, causing them to be 
hoisted up by the arms, and drubbed with a naked 
cutlass, to force them to discover whether they had 
money on board, and where it lay ; but as they had 
neither gold nor silver on board, he got nothing by 
his cruelty; however, he took from them a bale of 
pepper, and a bale of coffee, and so let them go. 

A little time after he touched a Carawar, a place 
upon the same coast, where, before he arrived, the 
news of what he had done to the Moorish ship had 
reached them; for some of the English merchants 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 63 

there had received an account of it from the own¬ 
ers who coresponded with them; wherefore, as 
soon as Kidd came in, he was suspected to be the 
person who committed this piracy; and one Mr. 
Harvey and Mr Mason, two of the English factory, 
came on board and asked for Parker, and Antonio, 
the Portuguese ; but Kidd denied that he knew any 
such persons,having secured them both in a private 
place in the hold, where they were kept for seven 
or eight days, that is, till Kidd,sailed from thence. 

However, the coast was alarmed, and a Portu¬ 
guese man of war was sent out to cruise. Kidd 
met with her, and fought her about six hours, gal¬ 
lantly enough ; but finding her too strong to be 
taken he quitted her ; for he was able to run away 
from her when he would. Then he went to a place 
calledPorca, where he watered the ship, and bought 
a number of hogs of the natives to victual his com¬ 
pany. 

Soon after this, he came up with a Moorish ship, 
the master whereof was a Dutchman, called Schip- 
per Mitchell, and chased her under French colours, 
which they observing, hoisted French colours too ; 
when he came up with her, he hailed her in French, 
and they having a Frenchman on board, answered 
him in the same language; upon which he ordered 
them to send their boat on board; they were oblig¬ 
ed to do so, and having examined who they were, 
and from whence they came, he asked the French¬ 
man, who was a passenger, if he had a French pass 
for himself; the Frenchman gave him to under¬ 
stand that he had. Then he told the Frenchman 

he must pass for captain, and by-, says he, you 

are the captain : the Frenchman durst not refuse 
doing as he would have him. The meaning of this 
was, that he would seize the ship as fair prize, and as 
if she had belonged to French subjects, accordingto 
a commission he had for that purpose; though, one 



64 CAPTAIN KIDD, 

would think, after wliat he had already done, that 
he need not have recourse to a quibble to give his 
actions a colour. 

In short, he took the cargo, and sold it some 
time after; yet still he seemed to have some fears 
upon him, lest these proceedings should have a 
bad end; for, coming up with a Dutch ship some 
time after, when his men thought of nothing but at¬ 
tacking her, Kidd opposed it; upon which a mutiny 
arose, and the majority being for taking the said 
ship, and arming themselves to man the boat to go 
and seize her, he told them, such as did, never 
should come on board him again; which put an 
end to the design, so that he kept company with 
the said ship some time, without offering her any 
violence. However, this dispute was the occasion 
of an accident, upon which an indictment was after 
wards grounded against Kidd; for Moor, the gun¬ 
ner, being one day upon deck, and talking with 
Kidd, about the said Dutch ship, some words arose 
between them, and Moor told Kidd, that he had 
ruined them all; upon which, Kidd, calling him a 
dog, took up a bucket and struck him with it, which 
breaking his scull, he died the next day. 

But Kidd’s penitential fit did not last long, for 
coasting along Malabar, he met with a great num¬ 
ber of boats, all which he plundered. Upon the 
same coast he also fell in with a Portuguese ship, 
which he kept possession of a week, and then hav¬ 
ing taken out of her some chests of India goods, 
thirty jars of butter, with some wax, iron, and a 
hundred bags of rice, he let her go. 

Much about the same time he w 7 ent to one of the 
Malabar islands for w ood and water, and his cooper- 
being ashore, was murdered by the natives ; upon 
which Kidd himself landed, and burnt and pillaged 
several of their houses, the people running away; 
but having taken one, he caused him to be tied to a 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 65 

tree, and commanded one of his men to shoot him; 
then putting to sea again he took the greatest prize 
which fell into his hands while he followed this 
trade : this was a Moorish ship of 400 tons, richly 
laden, named the Queda Merchant, the master 
whereof was an Englishman, by the name of 
Wright; for the Indians often make use of English 
or Dutchmen to command their ships, their own 
mariners not being so good artists in navigation. 
Kidd chased her under French colours, and having 
come up with her, he ordered her to hoist out her 
boat, and to send on board of him, which being 
done, he told Wright he was his prisoner ; and in¬ 
forming himself concerning the said ship, he un¬ 
derstood there were no Europeans on board, ex¬ 
cept two Dutch, and one Frenchman, all the rest 
being Indians or Armenians, and that theArmenians 
were part owners of the cargo. l£idd gave the Ar¬ 
menians to understand, that if they would offer any 
thing that was worth h\s taking for their ransom, 
he would hearken to it. Upon which, they propos¬ 
ed to pay him 20,000 rupees, not quite £3000 ster¬ 
ling ; but Kidd judged this would be makingabad 
bargain, wherefore lie rejected it, and setting the 
crew on shore, at different places on the coast, he 
soon sold as much of the cargo as came to ten 
thousand pounds. With part of it he also traffick¬ 
ed, receiving in exchange provisions, or such other 
goods as he wanted; by degrees he disposed of the 
whole cargo, and when the division was made, it 
came to about £200 a man ; and having reserved 
forty shares to himself, his dividend amounted to 
about £8000 sterling. 

The Indians along the coast came on board and 
trafficked with all freedom, and he punctually per¬ 
formed his bargains, till about the time he was 
ready to sail; and then thinking he should have no 
further occasion for them, he made no scruple of 
6 * 



66 CAPTAIN KIDD. 

taking their goods, and setting them on shore with 
out any payment in money or goods, which they 
little expected; for as they had been used to deal 
with pirates, they always found them men of ho¬ 
nour in the way of trade ; a people, enemies to de¬ 
ceit, and that scorned to rob but in their own way. 

Kidd put some of his men on board the Q,ueda 
Merchant, and with this ship and his own, sailed 
for Madagascar. As soon as he had arrived and 
cast anchor, there came on board of him a canoe, in 
which were several Englishmen, who had formerly 
been well acquainted with Kidd. As soon as they 
saw him they saluted him, and told him, they were 
informed he was come to take them, and hang them, 
which would be a little unkind in such an old ac¬ 
quaintance. Kidd soon dissipated their doubts, by 
swearing he had no such design, and that he was 
nowin every respect their brother, and just as bad 
as they; and calling for a cup of bomboo, drank 
their captain’s health. 

These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the 
Resolution, formerly the Mocha Merchant, whereof 
one Capt. Culliford was commander, and which lay 
at anchor not far from them. Kidd went on board 
with them, promising them his friendship and as¬ 
sistance, and Culliford in his turn came on board of 
Kidd; and Kidd to testify his sincerity in iniquity, 
finding Culliford in want of some necessaries, made 
him a present of an anchor and some guns, to fit 
him out for sea again. 

The Adventure galley was now so old and leaky, 
that they were forced to keep two pumps continu¬ 
ally going; wherefore Kidd shifted all the guns and 
tackle out of her into the Queda Merchant, intend¬ 
ing her for his man of war; and as he had divided 
the money before, he now made a division of the 
remainder of the cargo : soon after which, the 
greatest part of the company left him, some going 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 67 

on board Capt. Culliford, and others absconding 
into the country, so that he had not above 40 men 
left. 

He put to sea, and happened to touch at Amboy- 
na, one of the Butch spice islands, where he was 
told, that the news of his actions had reached Eng¬ 
land, and that he was there declared a pirate. 

The truth of it is, his piracies so alarmed our 
merchants, that some motions were made in parlia¬ 
ment, to inquire into the commission that was given 
him, and the persons who fitted him out. These 
proceedings seemed to lean a little hard upon Lord 
Bellamont, who thought himself so much touched 
thereby, that he published a justification of himself 
in a pamphlet, after Kidd’s execution. In a mean 
time it was thought advisable, in order to stop the 
course of these piracies, to publish a proclamation, 
offering the king’s free pardon to all such pirates as 
should voluntarily surrender themselves, whatever 
piracies they had been guilty of, at any time before 
the last day of April, 1609—that is to say, for all 
piracies committed eastward of the Cape of Good 
Hope, to the longitude and meridian of Socatora, 
and Cape Cormorin ; in which proclamation, Avery 
and Kidd were excepted by name. 

When Kidd left Amboyna he knew nothing of 
this proclamation, for certainly had he had notice of 
his being excepted in it, he would not have been so 
infatuated, as to run himself into the very jaws of 
danger ;but relying upon his interest with the lord 
Bellamont, and fancying that a French pass or two 
he found on board some of the ships he took, would 
serve to countenance the matter, and that part of 
the booty he got would gain him new friends—I 
say all these things made him flatter himself that all 
would be hushed, and that justice would but wink at 
him.—Wherefore he sailed directly for New-York, 
where he was no sooner arrived, but by the Lord 




68 CAPTAIN KIDD. 

Bellamont’s orders, he was secured with all his pa¬ 
pers and effects. Many of his fellow-adventurers, 
who had forsook him at Madagascar, came over 
from thence passengers, some to New-England and 
some to Jersey; where hearing of the king’s proc¬ 
lamation for pardoning of pirates, they surrendered 
themselves to the governor of those places At 
first they were admitted to hail, but soon after laid 
in strict confinement, where they were kept for 
some time, till an opportunity happened of sending 
them with their captain over to England to he tried. 

Accordingly a sessions of admiralty being held 
at the Old Bailey, in May, 1701, Capt. Kidd, Nicho¬ 
las Churchill, James How, Robert Lumley, Wil¬ 
liam Jenkins, Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Richard 
Barlicorn, Abel Owens, and Darby Mullins, were 
arraigned for piracy and robbery on the high seas, 
and all found guilty except three : these were Ro¬ 
bert Lumley, William Jenkins, and Richard Barli¬ 
corn, who proving themselves to be apprentices to 
some of the officers of the ship, and producing their 
. indentures in court, where acquitted. 

The three above mentioned, though they were 
proved to be concerned in taking and sharing the 
ship and goods mentioned in the indictment, yet, as 
the gentlemen of the long robe rightly distinguish¬ 
ed, there was a great difference between their cir¬ 
cumstances and the rest; for there must go an in¬ 
tention of the mind and a freedom of the will to the 
committing an act of felony or piracy. A pirate is 
not to be understood to be under constraint, but 
a free agent; for in this case, the bare act will not 
make a man guilty, unless the will make it so. 

Now a servant, it is true, if he go voluntarily, and 
have his proportion, he must be accounted a pirate, 
for then he acts upon his own account, and not by 
compulsion ; and these persons, according to the 
evidence, received their part, but whether they ac- 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 69 

counted to their masters for their shares afterwards, 
is the matter in question, and what distinguishes 
them as free agents, or men that did go under the 
compulsion of their masters, which being left to the 
consideration of the jury, they found them not 
guilty. 

Kidd was tried upon an indictment of murder also, 
viz. for killing Moor, the gunner, and found guilty 
of the same. .Nicholas Churchill, and James How 
pleaded the king’s pardon, as having surrendered 
themselves within the time limited in the proclama¬ 
tion, and Col. Bass, governor of West-Jersey, to 
whom they surrendered, being in court, and called 
upon, proved the same. However, this plea was 
over-ruled by the court, because there being four 
commissioners named in the proclamation, viz. 
Capt. Thomas Warren, Israel Hayes, Peter Delan- 
noye, and Christopher Pollard, Esqrs. who were 
appointed commissioners, and sent over on purpose 
to receive the submission of such pirates as should 
surrender, it was adjudged no other person was 
qualified to receive their surrender, and that they 
could not be entitled to the benefit of the said proc¬ 
lamation, because they had not in all circumstan¬ 
ces complied with the conditions of it. 

DarbyMn llins urged in his defence, that he served 
under the king’s commission, and therefore could 
not disobey his commander without incurring great 
punishments; that whenever a ship or ships went 
out upon any expedition under the king’s commis¬ 
sion, the men were never allowed to call their offi¬ 
cers to an account, why they did this, or why they 
did that, because such a liberty would destroy all 
discipline : that if any thing was done which was 
unlawful, the officers were to answer it, for the men 
did no more than their duty in obeying orders. He 
was told by the court, that acting under the com¬ 
mission justified in wdiatwas lawful, but noi in what 



70 CAPTAIN KIDD, 

was unlawful. He answered he stood in need of 
nothing to justify him in what was lawful, but the 
case of seamen must he very hard, if they must be 
brought into such danger for obeying the com¬ 
mands of their officers, and punished for not obey¬ 
ing them, and if they were allowed to dispute the 
orders, there could be no such thing as command 
kept up at sea. - 

This seemed to be the best defence the thing 
could bear; but his taking a share of the plunder, 
the seamen’s mutinying on board several times, 
and taking upon them to control the captain, show¬ 
ed there was no obedience paid to the commission; 
and that they acted in all things according to the 
custom of pirates and free-booters, which weigh¬ 
ing with the jury, they brought him in guilty with 
the rest. 

As to Capt. Kidd’s defence, he insisted much on 
his own innocence, and the villany of his men. He 
said, he went out in a laudable employment and had 
no occasion, being then in good circumstances, to 
go a pirating; that the men often mutinied against 
him, and did as they pleased; that he was threat¬ 
ened to be shot in the cabin, and that ninety-five 
left him at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that 
he was disabled from bringing his ship home, or the 
prizes he took, to have them regularly condemned, 
which he said were taken by virtue of a commis¬ 
sion under the broad seal, they having French 
passes. The captain called one Col. Hewson to his 
reputation, who gave him an extraordinary charac¬ 
ter, and declared to the court, that he had served 
under his command, and been in two engagements 
with him against the French, in which lie fought as 
well as any man he ever saw ; that there were only 
Kidd’s ship and his own against Monsieur du Cass, 
who commanded a squadron of six sail, and they 
got the better of him. But this being several years 


CAPTAIN KIDD. 71 

before the facts mentioned in the indictment were 
committed, proved of no manner of service to the 
prisoner on his trial. 

As to the friendship shown to Culliford, a noto¬ 
rious pirate, Kidd denied, and said, he intended 
to have taken him, but his men being a parcel of 
rogues and villains refused to stand by him, and 
several of them ran away from his ship to the said 
pirate.—But the evidence being full and particular 
against him, he was found guilty as before men¬ 
tioned. 

When Kidd was asked what he had to say why 
sentence should not pass against him, he answer¬ 
ed, that he had nothing to say, hut that he had been 
sworn against by perjured anil wicked people . And 
when sentence was pronounced, he said, my Lord, 
it is a very hard sentence . For my part, I am the 
most innocent person of them all, only I have been 
sworn against by perjured persons. 

Wherefore about a week after, Capt. Kidd, 
NicholasChurchill, JamesHow,GabrielLofT, Hugh 
Parrot, Abel Owen, and Darby Mullins, were exe¬ 
cuted at Execution Dock, and afterwards hung up 
in chains, at some distance from each other, down 
the river, where their bodies hung exposed for 
many years. 


72 


CAPTAIN TEW. 


CAPTAIN TEW. 


Before I enter on the adventures of this pirate, 

I must take notice to the reader of the reasons 
which made me not continue the life of Misson. 

In reading the notes, which I have by me, relat¬ 
ing toCapt.Tew, I found him joined with Misson ; 
and that I must be either guilty of repetition, or give 
an account of Tew in Misson’s life, which is contrary 
to the method I proposed, that of giving a distinct 
relation of every pirate who has made any figure: 
and surely Tew, in point of gallantry, was inferior 
to none, and may justly claim a particular account 
of his actions. However, before I enter on the life 
of this pirate, I shall continue that of Misson to the 
time that these two commanders met. 

The blacks seeing them so much on their guard, 
brought out boiled rice and fowls, and after they had 
satisfied their hunger, the chief made signs that 
they were the same who had carried a negro to their 
ships, and sent lor the axe and piece of baize they 
had given him. While this passed, the very negro 
came from hunting, who seemed overjoyed to see 
them. The chief made signs that they might return, 
and ten negroes coming to them, laden with fowls 
and kids, he gave them to understand, they should 
■accompany them to their ships with these presents. 
They parted very amicably, and in hopes of settling 
a good correspondence with these natives. All the 
houses were neatly framed and jointed, not built 
from any foundation, but so made, that half a dozen 
men could lift and transport them from place to 
place. The hunters, returning to their ships, with 
these presents and negroes, were joyfully received; 
and the negroes were not only caressed, but laden 


CAPTAIN TEW. 

with baize, iron kettles, and rum, besides the pre¬ 
sent of a cutlass for the chief. 

While the negroes stayed, which was the space 
of three days, they examined and admired the forts 
and growing town, in which all hands were busied, 
and not even the prisoners excused. 

AsMisson apprehended no danger from the land, 
his fort, though of wood, being, he thought, a suffi¬ 
cient defence to his infant colony, he took 160 
hands, and went a second time on the coast of Zan- 
guebar, and off Q,uiloa he gave chase to a large ship 
which lay by for him. She proved an over-match 
for the Yictoire, which engaged her, with great loss 
of men, near eight glasses; but finding lie was more 
likely to be taken,than to make a prize,by the advice 
of his officers and men, endeavoured to leave the 
Portuguese, which was a 50 gun ship, and had 300 
men on board ; but he found this attempt vain, for 
the Portuguese sailed as well as the Yictoire, and 
her commander, who was a resolute and brave man, 
seeing him endeavour to shake him off, clapped him 
on board, but lost most of the men lie entered. 
Misson’s crew, not used to be attacked, and expect¬ 
ing no quarter, fought so desperately, that they not 
only thoroughly cleared their decks, but some of 
them followed the Portuguese, who leaped into 
their own ship; which Misson seeing, hoped to 
make an advantage of their despair, and crying out, 
Kile est a nous , a /’ abordage — She’s our own , board , 
board her —so many of his men followed the few, 
that hardly were there enough left to work the 
ship. Misson, observing the resolution of his men, 
grappled the Portuguese ship, and leaped on board 
himself, crying out, kurnort , ou la victoire—death or 
victory* The Portuguese, who thought themselves 
in a manner conquerors, seeing the enemy not only 
drive off those who entered them, but board with 
such resolution, began to quit the decks in spite of 




74 CAPTAIN TEW, 

their officers. The captain and Misson met, as he 
was endeavouring to hinder the flight of his men. 
they engaged with equal bravery with their cut¬ 
lasses : but Misson striking him on the neck, he fell 
down the main hatch, which put an end to the fight, 
for the Portuguese seeing their captain fall, threw 
down their arms, and called for quarters, which was 
granted ; and all the prisoners without distinction 
ibeingorderedbetween decks,and thepowder rooms 
secured, he put 35 men on board the prize, and 
made the best of his way to Libertatia. This was 
the dearest prize he ever madeT, for he lost 56 men. 
She was vastly rich in gold, having near <£200,000 
sterling on board, being her own and the cargo of 
her companion, which was lost upon the coast, of 
whose crew she had saved one hundred men out 
of 120, the rest being lost by endeavouring to swim 
ashore. This was the reason that the prize was so 
well manned, and proved so considerable. 

Being within sight of Madagascar, they spied a 
sloop which stood for them, and when in gun shot, 
threw out black colours, and fired a gun to wind¬ 
ward. Misson brought too, fired another to lee¬ 
ward, and hoisted out his boat, which the sloop 
perceiving, lay by for. Misson's lieutenant went 
on board,andwasreceivedvery civilly byCapt.Tew, 
who was the commander, to whom the lieutenant 
gave a short account of their adventures and new 
settlement, inviting him very kindly on boardCapt. 
Misson. Tew told him, he could not consent to go 
with him till he had the opinion of his men. In the 
mean while, Misson coming along side, hailed the 
sloop, and invited the captain on board, desiring his 
lieutenant would stay as a hostage, if they were in 
the least jealous of him, which they had no reason 
to be, since he was of force so much superior, that 
he need not employ stratagem. This determined 
the company on board the sloop, who advised their 


captain tew. 75 

captain to go with the lieutenant, whom they 
would not suffer to stay behind, to show the greater 
confidence in their new friends. 

My reader may be surprised that a single sloop 
should venture to give chase to two ships of such 
countenance as were the Victoire and her prize; 
but this wonder will cease, when he is acquainted 
with the sequal. 

Capt. Tew, after being handsomely regaled on 
board the Victoire, and thoroughly satisfied, re¬ 
turned on board his sloop, gave an account of what 
he had learned, and his men consenting, he gave 
orders to steer the same course with Misson, whose 
settlement it was agreed to visit. I shall here leave 
them to give an account of Capt. Tew. 

Mr. Richier, governor of Bermuda, fitted out 
two sloops on the privateer account, commanded by 
Capt. George Drew, and Capt. Thomas Tew, with 
instructions to make the best of their way to the 
river Gambia, in Africa, and there, with the advice 
and assistance of the agent for the royal African 
company, to attempt the taking the French factory 
ofGoree on that coast. 

The afiove commanders having their commis¬ 
sions and instructions from the governor, took their 
departure from Bermuda, and kept company some 
time; but Drew springing his mast, and a violent 
storm coming upon them, they lost each other. 

Tew being separated from his consort, thought 
of providing for his future ease, by making one bold 
push; and accordingly, calling all hands on deck, he 
spoke to thfem to this purpose. 

“That they were not ignorant of the design 
with which the governor fitted them out: the 
taking and destroying the French factory ; that he, 
indeed, readily agreed to take a commission to 
this end, though contrary to his judgment, because 
it was for the sake of being employed; but that ho 


76 CAP1AIN TEW. 

thought it a very injudicious expedition, which, did 
they succeed in, would be of no use to the public, 
and oflly he of advantage to a private company of 
men, from whom they could expect no reward for 
their bravery; that he could see nothing hut danger 
in the undertaking, without the least prospect of 
booty ; that he could not suppose any man fond of 
fighting for fighting’s sake; and few ventured their 
lives, but with some view either of particular inte¬ 
rest or public good: but here was not the least 
appearance of either. Wherefore, he was of opin¬ 
ion, that they should turn their thoughts on what 
might better their circumstances ; and if they were 
so inclined, he would undertake to shape a course 
which should lead them to ease and plenty, in 
which they might pass the rest of their days. That 
one bold push would do their business, and they 
might return home, not only without danger, but 
even with reputation,” The crew finding he exr 
pected their resolution, cried one, and all, “ A 
gold chain or a wooden leg — we'll stand by you." 

Hearing this, he desired they would choose a 
quarter-master, who might consult with him for the 
common good; which was accordingly done. 

I must acquaint the reader, that on board the 
West-India privateers and free-booters, the quar¬ 
termaster’s opinion is like the Mufti’s among the 
Turks : the captain can undertake nothing which 
the quarter-master does not approve. We may 
say the quarter-master is a humble imitation of the 
Roman tribune of the people ; he speaks for, and 
looks after the interest of the crew. 

'i’ew, now, instead of proceeding on his voyage 
to Gambia, shaped his course for the Cape of Good 
Hope, which doubling, he steered for the straits of 
Babelmandel, entering into the Red Sea, where 
they came up with a lofty ship bound from the 
Indies to Arabia; she was richly laden, and as she 



























































































































































* 





The Victoin engages a Portuguese skip. Page 

















































































































CAPTAIN TEW. 77 

was to clear the coasts of rovers, five more, ex¬ 
tremely rich (one especially in gold) being to follow 
her, she had 300 soldiers on board, besides her sea¬ 
men. 

Tew, on making this ship, told his men she car¬ 
ried their fortunes, which they would find no diffi¬ 
culty to take possession of; for though he was satis¬ 
fied she was full of men, and was mounted with a 
great number of guns, they wanted the two things 
necessary, skill and courage: and, indeed, so it 
proved, for he boarded and carried her without loss, 
every one taking more care to run from danger, 
than to exert himself in the defence of his goods. 

In rummaging this prize, the pirates threw over 
a great many rich bales, to search for gold, silver 
and jewels ; and having taken what they thought 
proper, together with the powder, part of which 
(as being more than they could handsomely stow) 
they threw into the sea, they left her, sharing 
£3000 sterling a man. 

Bncouraged by this success, Capt.Tew proposed 
going in quest of the other five ships, of which he 
had intelligence from the prize ; but the quarter¬ 
master opposing him. he was obliged to drop the 
design, and steer for Madagascar. 

Here the quarter-master finding this island pro¬ 
ductive of all the necessaries of life; and the air 
was wholesome, soil fruitful, and the sea abound¬ 
ing with fish, proposed settling; but only three and 
twenty of the crew came into the proposal: the 
rest stayed with Captain Tew, who having given 
the new settlers their share of plunder, designed to 
return to America, as they afterwards did; but spy, 
ing theVictoire and her prize, he thought he might, 
by their means, return somewhat richer, and resolv¬ 
ed to speak with them, as I have already said. 

Tew and his company having taken the above 
resolution of visiting Monsieur Misson’s colony, 
7* 


78 CAPTAIN TEW. 

arrived with him, and was not a little surprised 

to see his fortifications. 

When they came under the first fort, they salu¬ 
ted it with nine guns, and were answered by an 
equal number. All the prisoners, at their coming 
to an anchor, were suffered to come up, a privilege 
they had never before granted them, on account of 
the few hands left them, except two or three at a 
time. 

The joy those ashore expressed at the sight of so 
considerable a prize as they judged her at first 
sight, was vastly allayed, when they heard how dear 
a purchase she had proved to them. However, the 
reinforcement of the sloop made some amends. 
Capt. Tew was received by Caraccioli arid the rest, 
with great civility and respect, who did not a little 
admire his courage, both in attacking the prize he 
made, and afterwards in giving chase to Misson. 
He was call ed to the council of officers, which was 
immediately held, to consider what methods should 
be taken with the prisoners, who were, by 190 
brought in by this new prize, near as numerous as 
those of his own party, though Tew joined them 
with 70 men. It was therefore resolved to keep 
them separate from the Portuguese and English, 
who were before taken, to make them believb they 
were in amity with a prince of the natives, who was 
very powerful, and to propose to them, at their 
choice, the assisting the new colony in their works, 
or being sent prisoners up the country, if they re¬ 
jected entering in with them. Seventy-three took 
on, and the rest desired they might be any way em¬ 
ployed rather than be sent up the country; 117 then 
were set to work upon a dock, which was laid out 
about half a mile above the mouth of the harbour* 
and the other prisoners were forbid to pass such 
bounds as were prescribed then on pain of death ; 
lest they, knowing their own strength, should re- 


CAPTAIN TEW. 79 

volt; lor I must acquaint the reader, that on the ar¬ 
rival of the Victoire, both their loss and the num¬ 
ber of Portuguese they brought in, was known to 
none but themselves, and the number of those 
who came over, magnified ; besides, the Johanna 
men were all armed and disciplined, and the Bijoux 
lay as a guard-ship, where the last prisoners were 
set to work ; but while t hey p rovided for their se¬ 
curity, both within and \out, they did not neg¬ 
lect providing also for their support, for they dug 
and sowed a large plat of ground with Indian and 
European corn, and other seeds which they found 
or board their prizes. In the mean while, Caracci- 
oli, who had the art of persuasion, wrought on ma¬ 
ny of the Portuguese, who saw no hopes of return¬ 
ing home to join them. Misson, who could not be 
easy in an inactive life, would have taken another 
cruise; but fearing the revolt of the prisoners, durst 
not weaken the colony by the hands he must neces¬ 
sarily take with him. Wherefore, he proposed giv¬ 
ing the last prize to, and sending away the prison¬ 
ers. Caraccioli and Capt.Tew were against it, say¬ 
ing, that it would discover their retreat, and cause 
their being attacked by the Europeans, who had 
settlements along the continent, before they were 
able to defend themselves. Misson replied, he 
could not bear to be always diffident of those about 
him; that it was better to die at once, than live in 
continual apprehensions of death: that the time 
was come for sending away the Johanna men, and 
that they could not go without a ship; neither durst 
he trust a ship out, not well manned, nor man her 
while so many prisoners were with him. Where¬ 
fore there was a necessity of sending them off, or of 
putting them all to the sword; a barbarity by which 
he would not purchase his security. A council was 
called, and whatCapt.Misson had proposed, agreed 
to. The prisoners were then summoned, and he 



00 CAPTAIN TEW. 

told them, in few words, that he knew the conse¬ 
quence of giving them liberty; that he expected to 
be attacked as soon as the place of his retreat was 
known, and had it in his hands by putting them to 
death, to avoid the doubtful fate of war; but his hu¬ 
manity would not suffer him to entertain a thought 
so cruel, and his alliances with the natives, he ho¬ 
ped, would enable him to repel his assailants; but 
he required an oath of every one, that he should 
not serve against him. He then inquired into the 
circumstances of every particular man, and what 
they had lost, all which he returned, telling the 
company it should be reckoned as part of his share; 
and the prisoners, that he did not make wai with 
the oppressed, but the oppressors. The prisoners 
were charmed with this mark of generosity, and 
wished he might never meet a treatment unworthy 
of that he gave them. The ship victualled for a 
voyage to the coast of Zanguebar, all her guns and 
ammunition taken out with the spare sails, and 
spare rigging, all were ordered to be gone ;and 137 
departed, highly applauding the behaviour oftheir 
enemies. All this while they had heard nothing 
from the natives, nor had the hunting parties met 
with any of them, which made Misson suspect they 
were afraid of his being their neighbour, and had 
shifted their quarters; but as the Johanna men 
were upon going away, there came about 50 ne¬ 
groes to them, driving about 100 head of black cat¬ 
tle, 20 negro men bound, and 25 women, for which 
cattle and prisoners they bartered rum, hatchets, 
baize, and beads; some hogsheads of which last 
commodity they had taken on the coast of Angola. 
Here the negroes belonging to Misson were pro¬ 
vided with wives: the natives were caressed, and 
to the slaves signs made that their liberty was giv¬ 
en them; they were immediately clothed and put 
under the care of as many whites, who, by all possi- 


CAPTAIN TEW. 81 

ble demonstrations, endeavoured to make them un¬ 
derstand that they were enemies to slavery. The 
natives stayed ten days, which retarded the depart¬ 
ure of the Johanna men ; but, upon their retireing, 
the liijoux sailed with 100 of them on board, under 
the command of Caraccioli’s lieutenant, who ex¬ 
cused the keeping them longer than was promised, 
and not bringing them at once, having no more than 
two ships. The Portuguese ship, which was un¬ 
rigged, being made a hulk, the ten men of Misson’s 
company who had settled at Johanna, being desir¬ 
ous to return, were brought toLibertatia with their 
wives (of which they had two or three a piece) and 
their children. The Bijoux, at two more voyages, 
carried over the rest of the Johannians. 

Misson hove down the Bijoux, and resolving on 
a cruise on the coast of Guinea, to strengthen his 
colony by the capture of some slaving ship, he gave 
the command of her to Capt.Tew, and he and Ca- 
raccioli pressed the work of the dock. He gave 
him also 200 hands, of which 40 were Portuguese, 
37 negroes, 17 of them expert sailors, 30 English, 
and the rest French. Tew met with nothing in his 
way, till he came to the northward of the Cape of 
Good Hope, when he fell in with a JDutcli East In¬ 
dia galley of 18 guns, which he took after a small 
resistance, and with the loss of one man only. On 
the coast of Angola he took an English Guinea- 
man with 240 slaves, men, women, and boys. The 
negroes who had been before taken on this coast, 
found among these a great many of their acquaint¬ 
ance, and several of their relations, to whom they 
reported their unexpected change of fortune, the 
great captain (for so they now called Misson) hav¬ 
ing humanely knocked off their chains, and of slaves 
made them free men, and sharers in his fortunes: 
that the same good fortune had attended them in 
their falling into his hands, for he aborred even the 


82 CAPTAIN TEW. 

name of slavery. Tew, following the orders and 
acquainted with the policy of Misson, ordered their 
fetters and handcuffs to be taken off, upon his negro 
sailors assuring him they would not revolt, and 
were sensible of their happiness in falling into his 
hands. Content with these prizes, he made the best 
of his way home to Libertatia where he arrived 
without any sinister accident; but I forgot to tell my 
reader, that he set his Dutch prisoners (nine except¬ 
ed, who took on with him) ashore, about 30 miles to 
the northward of the Cape of SaldanhaBay, where 
had been buried, by Capt. Misson, the English com¬ 
mander. He found a great quantity of English 
crowns on board his Dutch prize, which were car¬ 
ried into the common treasury; money being of no 
use where every thing was in common, and no 
hedge bounded any particular man’s property. 
The slaves he had released in this last cruise were 
employed in perfecting the dock, and treated on 
the footing of free people. They were not ignorant 
of the change of their condition, and were therefore 
extremely diligent and faithful. A white man, or 
one of the old standing negroes, wrought with 
every four, and made them understand the French 
words (by often repetition, and the help of their 
country-mens interpreting) used in their works 
Misson ordered a couple of sloops to be built in a 
creek, of eighty tons each, which he mounted with 
eight guns a piece, out of a Dutch prize. These 
were perfected in a little time, and proved noi only 
shapely vessels, but excellent sailers. The officers 
of these sloops were chosen by ballotting, and as 
their first design was only to discover and lay down 
a chart of the coast, sands, shoals, and depth of wa¬ 
ter round the island of Madagascar, the school¬ 
master being sent with the command of one, Tew 
desired and had the other. They were manned, 
each sloop with 50 white and 50 black men ; which 


CAPTAIN TEW. 83 

voyage round the island was of vast advantage in 
giving the new released Angola negroes a notion of 
working a vessel;—and they were very industri¬ 
ous both in endeavouring to learn the French lan¬ 
guage, and to be useful. These sloops, the one of 
which was called the Childhood, and the other the 
Liberty, were near four months on this expedition. 
In the mean while, a few of the natives had come 
often to the settlement, and began to speak alittle 
French, mixed with the other European languages, 
which they heard among Misson’s people, and six 
of the native families fixed among them, which was 
of vast use to the planters of this colony; for they 
made a very advantageous report to their country¬ 
men of the regularity and harmony they observed 
in them. The sloops having returned, and an exact 
chart taken of the coast, Caraccioli had a mind for 
a cruise. He proposed visiting all the neighbour¬ 
ing islands, and accordingly went out to Mascaren- 
has, and the other islands near it, taking one half 
of his crew of negroes, and returned with a Dutch 
prize, which he took off the above mentioned islan i 
were they were about fixing a colony. This prize, 
as it had on board all sorts of European goods, and 
necessaries for settling, was more valuable than if 
it had been vastly richer. The negroes growing 
useful hands, Misson resolved on a cruise to the 
northward, encouraged by Tew’s success; and 
with all the blacks, which he divided between the 
two ships, one of which Capt. Tew commanded set 
out with 500 men. Off the coast of Arabia Felix 
they fell in with a ship belonging to theGreatMogul, 
bound for Zidon, with pilgrims to Mecca, who, with 
Moor mariners, made up the number of 1000 souls. 
This ship carried 110 guns, but made a very poor 
defence, being encumbered with the goods and num¬ 
ber of passengers they carried. The two adven¬ 
ture did not think it their business to cannonade: 


84 CAPTAIN TEW. 

they therefore boarded as soon as they came up 
with her, and the Moors no sooner saw them en¬ 
tered, but they discharged one volley of small arms 
at random, we may suppose, because no execution 
was done, and fled the decks. Being masters of 
this ship, which didnot cost them a single man, they 
consulted what they should do with her, and the 
prisoners, and it was resolved to set them ashore 
between Ain and Aden. 

They now made the best of their way for Mada¬ 
gascar, putting 200 hands on board the prize, which 
proved a very heavy sailer, and retarded them very 
much. Off the Cape Guarde Fin they were over¬ 
taken with a cruel storm, which was near wrecking 
them on the island called Irmanos; but the wind 
coming about due north, they had the good luck to 
escape this danger. Though the fury of the wind 
abated, yet it blew so hard for twelve days together, 
that they could only carry their coursers reefed. 
They spied a sail in their passage, but the weather 
would not permit their endeavouring to speak with 
her. In a word, they returned to Libertatia with 
their prize, without any other acccident; but the 
captors could make no estimate of her value, she 
having on board a vast quantity of diamonds, be¬ 
sides rich silks, raw silks, spices, carpets, wrought 
and bar gold. The prize was taken to pieces, as 
she Was of no use; her cordage and knee timber pre¬ 
served, with all the bolts, eyes, chains, and other 
iron work, and her guns planted on two points of 
the harbour, where they raised batteries, so that 
they were now so strongly fortified they apprehen¬ 
ded no danger from any number of shipping which 
could be brought into those seas to attack them. 
They had, by this time, cleared, sown, and enclosed 
a good parcel of ground, and taken in a quantity of 
pasturage, where they had above 300 head of black 
cattle, bought of the natives. The dock was now 


CAPTAIN TEW. 85 

finished, and the Victoire growing old and unfit for 
a long voyage, and the last storm having shook, 
and loosened her very much, she was pulled to 
pieces"and rebuilt, keeping the same name. She 
was rigged, victualled, and fit to go to sea, and was 
to sail to the coast of Guinea for more negroes, 
when one of the sloops came in, which had been 
sent out rather to exercise the negroes, than with 
any view of making a prize, and brought word that 
five lofty ships chased her into the bay, and stood 
for their harbour; that she judged them to bePortu- 
guese by their built, and 50 gun ships, full of men. 
This proved the real truth. The alarm was given, 
the forts and batteries manned,and every man stood 
to his arms. Misson took upon him the command 
of 100 negroes,who were well disciplined,(for every 
morning they had been used to perform their exer¬ 
cise, which was taught them by a French serjeant, 
one of their company,who belonged to the Victoire) 
to be ready where his assistance should be required, 
Tew commanded all the English. They had hardly 
ordered their affairs when these ships hove in sight, 
and stood directly for the harbour with Portuguese 
colours. They were warmly received by the two 
forts, which did not stop them, though it brought 
one of them on the careen. They entered the har¬ 
bour, and thought they had done their business, but 
were saluted so warmly from the forts, batteries, 
sloops, and ships, that two of them sunk downright, 
and a great many men were drowned, though some 
got on board the other ships. The Portuguese, who 
did not imagine they had been so well fortified, and 
thought in passing the two forts they should with¬ 
out difficulty land their men, and easily root out this 
nest of pirates, found now their mistake, for they 
durst not venture to hoist out a boat. They had 
wisely, however, contrived to enter just before the 
turn of the tide. Finding the attempt vain, and that 



86 CAPTAIN TEW. 

they had lost a great many men, they clapped upon 
a wind, and with the help of the tide of ebb, made 
more haste out than they did to get in, leaving two 
of their ships sunk in the harbour; but they did not 
get off so cheaply, for no sooner were they clear of 
the forts, but Misson, manning with the utmost ex¬ 
pedition both the ships and sloops,gave them chase, 
and engaged them at the mouth of the bay, The 
Portuguese defended themselves with a great deal 
of gallantry, and one of them beat off the Liberta- 
tians twice, who boarded them from the two sloops; 
two of them, finding themselves hard pressed made 
a running fight, and got off, and left the third to 
shift as well as she could. The Bijoux and Yictoire 
finding the Portuguese endeavoured to clear them¬ 
selves and knowing there was little to be got by 
the captures, gave over the chase, and fell upon 
the third, who defended himself till his decks swam 
with blood, and the greater number of his men 
killed; but finding all resistance vain, and that he 
was left to an unequal fight by his companions, he 
called for quarter, and good quarter was given, 
both to himself and men. This prize yielded them 
a great quantity of powder and shot, and, indeed, 
they expected nothing of value out of her. None of 
the prisoners were stripped, and the officers, Mis¬ 
son, Caraccioli, and Tew invited to their tables, 
treating them very civilly, and extolling the courage 
they had shown in their defence. Unhappily two 
prisoners were found on board, who had been re¬ 
leased, and had sworn never to serve against them; 
these were clapped in irons, and publicly tried for 
their perjury. The Portuguese officers being pre¬ 
sent, the witnesses proved them the very discharg¬ 
ed men, and they were condemned to be hanged at 
the point of each fort; which execution was per¬ 
formed the next morning after their condemna¬ 
tion , wi th th e a ssi s t a n c e of th e Por tu gue s e ch apl a in, 


CAPTAIN TEW. 87 

who attended, confessed, and absolved them. This 
was the engagement with the pirates, which made 
so much noise in the Lisbon Gazette, and these the 
men whom the English ignorantly took for Avery; 
who, we had a notion here in London, had 32 sail 
of men of war, and had taken upon himself the 
state and title of king. 

This execution seeming to impugn the maxims of 
the chiefs, Caraccioli made an harangue, in which 
he told them, “that there was no rule could be laid 
down which did not allow exceptions : that they 
were all sensible how tender the Commodore 
Monsieur Misson was in shedding blood; and that 
it was a tenet of his faith, that none had power over 
the life of another, but God alone who gave it; but 
notwithstanding, self-preservation sometimes made 
it absolutely necessary to take away the life of 
another, especially an avowed and obliged enemy, 
even in cold blood. As to the blood shed in a law¬ 
ful war, in defence of that liberty they had gene¬ 
rously asserted, it was needless to say any thing, 
but he thought it proper to lay before them reasons 
for the execution of the criminals, and the heinious- 
ness of their crimes. They had not only received 
their lives from the bounty of the Libertatians, but 
their liberty, and had every thing restored them 
which they laid claim to; consequently their ingrati¬ 
tude rose in proportion to the generous treatment 
they had met with : that indeed, both he and Capt. 
Misson would have passed by the perjury and 
ingratitude which they had been guilty of, with a 
corporeal punishment, which had not extended to 
the deprivation of life, but their gallant friend and 
companion, the English commander, Capt. Tew, 
used such cogent reasons for an exemplary punish¬ 
ment,to deter others from the like crimes, that they 
musthave been enemiesto their own preservation in 
not following his advice: that the lives of their whole 


88 CAPTAIN TEW. 

body ought to be preferred to those of declared and 
perjured enemies, who would not cease to endea¬ 
vour their ruin ; and, as they were well acquainted 
with their settlement, might he fatal instruments of 
it, if they were again restored to that liberty which 
they had already abused: that he was obliged to do 
Capt. Tew the justice, to acknowledge he was 
inclined to the side of mercy, till he was thoroughly 
informed of the blackness of their ingratitude, and 
then he thought it would be cruelty to themselves 
to let those miscreants experience a second time 
their clemency. Thus an absolute necessity had 
obliged them to act contrary to their declared prin¬ 
ciples ; though, to state the case rightly, these men, 
not the Libertarians, were the authors of their own 
deaths.” Here the assembly crying out, “ their 
blood is on their own heads , they sought their deaths , 
and hanging is to good for them;” Caraccioli gave 
over, and every one returned satisfied to his private 
or the public affairs. 

Some difference arising between Misson’s and 
Tew’s men, on a national quarrel, which the latter 
began, Capt. Tew proposed their deciding the quar¬ 
rel by the sword ; butCaraccioli was entirely against 
it, alleging, that such decision must necessarily 
be a damage to the public, since the brave men 
who fell, would be weakening of their colony. He 
therefore desiredCapt.Tew to interpose the author¬ 
ity he had over his crew, and he and Misson would 
endeavour to bring their men to an amicable agree¬ 
ment ; and for the future, as this accident proved 
the necessity, wholesome laws should be made, and 
a form of government entered upon. Both parties 
were therefore called, and Caraccioli showed them 
the necessity of their living in unity among them¬ 
selves, who had the whole world for enemies; and 
as he had a persuasive and insinuating way of 
argument with the assistance of Capt. Tew, this 


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CAPTAIN TEW. 89 

/fair was ended to the satisfaction of both par¬ 
ses. 

The next day the whole colony was assembled, 
and the three commanders proposed a form of go¬ 
vernment, as necessary to their conservation ; for 
where there was no coercive laws, the weakest 
would always be the sufferers, and every thing 
must tend to confusion : that men’s passions, blind¬ 
ing them to justice, and making them ever partial 
to themselves, they ought to submit the differences 
which might rise to calm and disinterested persons 
who could examine with temper, and determine 
according to reason and equity : that they looked 
upon a democratical form, where the people were 
themselves the makers and judges of their own 
laws, the most agreeable ; and therefore, desired 
they would divide themselves into companies often 
men, and every such company choose one to assist 
in settleing a form of government, and in making 
wholesome laws for the good of the whole : that the 
treasure and cattle they were masters of should be 
equally divided, and such lands as any particular 
man would enclose, should, for the future, be deem¬ 
ed his property, which no other should lay any 
claim to, if not alienated by a sale. 

This proposal was received with applause, and 
they decimated themselves that very day, but put 
off the meeting of the states till a house was built, 
which they set about very cheerfully, and finished 
it in about a fortnight; it being of framed timber, 
and they having among them a great number who 
understood the handling of an axe. 

When this body of politicians met, Caraccioli 
opened the sessions with a handsome speech, show¬ 
ing the advantage flowing from order; and then 
spoke to the necessity of lodging a supreme power 
in the hands of one who should have that of reward¬ 
ing brave and virtuous actions, and of punishing the 



90 CAPTAIN TEW. 

vicious, according to the laws which the state 
should make : by which he was to be guided : that 
such a power, however, should not be for life, nor 
be hereditary, but determine at the end of three 
years, when a new choice should be made by the 
state, or the old confirmed for three years longer; 
by which means, the ablest men would always be at 
the head of affairs, and their power being of short 
duration, none would dare to abuse it: that such a 
chief should have the title of Lord Conservator, and 
all the ensigns of royalty to attend him. 

This was approved nem. con. and Misson was 
chosen conservator, with power to create great 
officers, &c. and with the title of Supreme Excel¬ 
lence. 

A law was then made for the meeting of the 
State once every year at least, but oftener, if the 
conservator and his council thought it necessary 
for the common good to convene them ; and that 
nothing of moment should be undertaken without 
the approbation of the State. 

In a word their first session lasted ten days ; and 
a great many wholesome laws were enacted, re¬ 
gistered in the state book, and dispersed among 
the crews. 

Capt. Tew, the conservator honoured with the 
title of Admiral, and Caraccioli was made Secre¬ 
tary of State. He chose a council of the ablest 
among them,without distinction of nation or colour; 
and the different languages began to be incorpor¬ 
ated, and one made out of the many. An equal 
division was made of their treasure and cattle,and 
every one began either to enclose land for himself, 
or his neighbour who would hire his assistance. 

Admiral Tew proposed building an arsenal, and 
augmentingtheir naval force. The first was agreed 
to be proposed to the State at the next convention ; 
but the latter was thought unnecessary, till the 


CAPTAIN TEW* 9l 

number of inhabitants was augmented ; for, should 
they all be employed in the sea service, the hus¬ 
bandry would be neglected, which would be of fa¬ 
tal consequence to the growing colony. 

The Admiral then proposed the fetching in those 
Englishmen who had followed the quarter-master; 
but the council rejected this, alleging, that as they 
deserted their captain, it was a mark of a mutinous 
temper, and they might infect others with a spirit 
of disorder ; that, however, they might have notice 
given them of the settlement, and if they made it 
their earnest entreaty to be admitted, and would 
desert the quarter-master, it should be granted as 
a particular favour done them, at the instance of 
the Admiral, and upon his engaging his parole of 
honour for their quiet behaviour. 

The Admiral then desired he might take a cruise; 
that he hoped to meet with some East-India ships, 
and bring in some volunteers, for the number of 
subjects being the riches of a nation, he thought 
the colony stood more in need of men, than of any 
thing else ; that he would lie in the way of the 
Cape, and did not question doing good service; 
and as he went to the northward, would call upon 
his own men. 

The Victoire was according to the Admiral’s 
desire fitted out, and in a few days he sailed with 
300 men on board. He came to an anchor at the 
settlement his men had made, hoisted an English 
ensign in his fore shrouds, and fired a gun ; but 
after he had waited some time, perceiving no sig¬ 
nal from the shore, he landed and sent back his boat. 
Soon after the boat returned towards the ship,two 
of his men came up to him, to whom he gave an 
account of Misson’s settlement. They invited him 
into the wood to see that of theirs, and to advise 
with their companions, about the proposed migra¬ 
tion. The governor, alias quarter-master, received 




92 CAPTAIN TEWi 

him mighty civilly, but told him, that he could see 
no advantage to themselves in changing their 
present situation, though they might prove a great 
one to the new colony, by adding to their force so 
many brave fellows: that they there enjoyed all 
the necessaries of life; were free and independent 
of all the world; and it would be madness again to 
subject themselves to any government, which, 
however mild, still exerted some ppwer. That he 
was governor for three months, by the choice of his 
campanions; but his power extended no farther 
than to the judging in matters of small difference 
which might arise, which he hoped to do impar¬ 
tially while his authority continued; that they had 
agreed among themselves, and confirmed that 
agreement by oath to support the decrees of the 
governor for the time, that their tranquility might 
not be disturbed by the humour of any one man: 
and that this power of determining, was to devolve 
at the expiration of three months, to him on whom 
the lot should fall by balloting, provided he had not 
before enjoyed the honour, for such a one was not 
to draw; by which agreement, every one would be 
raised, in time, to the supreme command, which 
prevented all canvassing and making interest for 
votes, as when determined by suffrage; left no 
opening for making divisions and parties, and was a 
means to continue to them that repose inseparable 
from an unity among themselves. However, con¬ 
tinued he, “if you will go to America or Europe, 
and show the advantage which may accrue to the 
English, by fixing a colony here, out of that love we 
bear our country, and to wipe away the odious 
appellation of pirates, with pleasure we will submit 
to any who shall come with a commission from a 
lawful government; but it is ridiculous to think we 
will become subjects to greater rogues than our¬ 
selves.” 


CAPTAIN TEW. 93 

Capt. Tew finding the quarter-master spoke the 
sentiments of his companions, took leave, and 
returned to his ship : but went on shore again in 
the evening, the wind not serving to weigh, it 
blowing due west. He asked the governor how he 
got acquainted with the natives ? He answered, 
by meeting them a hunting, and using them well: 
that he wheedled one of them down to their huts, 
the fellow being alone, and they three in company, 
he supposed, thought it best to go with seeming 
willingness. After him several came, and they 
lived very friendly with them. The captain, had 
brought ashore with him some rum and brandy, 
and they were drinking a bowl of punch, when 
on a sudden, a violent storm arose. Capt. Tew ran 
to the shore, and made a signal for his boat to car¬ 
ry him off, but the sea ran too high to venture out 
of the ship. The storm all the while increased, 
and the Victoire, in less than two hours, parting 
her cables, was driven ashore where it was very 
steep, and perished, with all her men, in Capt. 
Tew’s sight. 

The captain stayed with his old companions, 
without knowing which way to return to his friends 
he had left with Misson, not one of whom was 
(luckily for them,) on board the ship. At the end of 
three months they saw a large ship, which Tew be¬ 
lieved was the Bijoux; but she took no notice of the 
fires they made. As he expected she would return 
after a short cruise, he, and his companions, made 
large fires every night on the shore, and visited the 
coast very often. About a month after this, as they 
came early to the sea-side, they were surprised at 
the sight of two sloops which lay at anchor, about 
a cannon shot from the shore. They had not been 
long looking upon them, when a canoe was hoisted 
out of one, and made to them, with six men who 
rowed, and one sitter. 



94 CAPTAIN TEW. 

Tew soon knew him to be Capt. Misson. He 
came ashore, and embracing the former, told him, 
all their proposed happiness was vanished; for 
without the least provocation given, in the dead of 
the night, the natives came down upon them in two 
great bodies, and made a great slaughter, without 
distinction of age or sex, before they could put 
themselves in a posture of defence; that Caraccioli 
(who died in the action) and he, got what men to¬ 
gether they could, to make a stand ; but finding all 
resistance vain against such numbers, he made a 
shift to secure a considerable quantity of rough 
diamonds and bar gold, and to get on board the two 
sloops with 45 men: that the Bijoux being gone to 
cruise, and the number of men he had carried with 
him in the Victoire, had weakened the colony, and 
given the natives the boldness to attack them, but 
for what reason he could not imagine. 

Tew gave him an account of the disaster which 
had happened, and after having mutually condoled 
their misfortunes, Tew proposed their going to 
America, where Misson might, with the riches he 
had, pass his life unknown, and in a comfortable 
manner. Misson answered he could not yet take 
any resolution, though he had thoughts of return¬ 
ing to Europe, and privately visiting his family, if 
any were alive, and then retire from the world. 
They dined with the quarter-master, who pressed 
their return to America, to procure a commission 
for the settling a colony. Misson told Tew, he 
should have one of the sloops, and what volunteers 
would keep him company, for his misfortunes had 
erased all thoughts of future settlements; that 
what riches they had saved, he would distribute 
equally, nay, he would be content, if he had only a 
bare support left him. On this answer, four of the 

quarter-master’s company offered to joinCapt.Tew. 

In the afternoon they visited both sloops, and 


CAPTAIN TEW. 95 

Misson putting the question to the men, 30 went on 
board of one sloop, though they parted with great 
reluctance from their old commander; and 15 stay¬ 
ed with Misson. The four men who joined Tew 
made the number of his crew 34: they stayed about 
a week, in hopes of the Bijoux’s return upon the 
coast; but she not appearing, they set sail, Captain 
Misson having first shared the treasure, with Tew 
and his other friends and companions, hoping to 
meet the Bijoux on the Guinea coast, for which 
they shaped their course. Off Cape Infantes, they 
were overtaken with a storm, in which the unhap¬ 
py Misson’s sloop went down, within musket shot 
of Capt. Tew, who could give him no assistance. 

Tew continued his course for America, and ar¬ 
rived at Rhode-Island without any accident. His 
men dispersed themselves, as they thought fit, and 
Tew sent to Bermuda for his owner’s account, 
fourteen times the value of their sloop ; and not 
being questioned by any, lived in great tranquillity. 
The French belonging to Misson, took different 
routes, one of whom dying at Rochelle, the French 
manuscript of Misson’s life was found among his 
papers, and transmitted to me by a friend and 
correspondent. 

Capt. Tew lived unquestioned. He had an easy 
fortune, and designed to live quietly at home ; but 
those of his men, who lived near him, having 
squandered their shares, were continually soliciting 
him to take another trip. He withstood their re¬ 
quest a considerable time; but they having got to¬ 
gether (by the report they made of the vast riches 
to be acquired) a number of resolute fellows, they, 
in a body, begged him to head them but for one voy 
age. They were so earnest in their desire, that he 
could not refuse complying. They prepared a small 
sloop, and made the best of their way to the straits 
entering the Red Sea, where they met with, and at 


96 CAPTAIN HALSEY* 

tacked a ship belonging to the Great Mogul in the 
engagement, a shot carried away the rim ol Tew’s 
belly, who held his bowels with his hands some 
small space. When he dropped, it struck such a 
terror in his men, that they suffered themselves to 
be taken, without further resistance. 




CAPTAIN JOHN HALSEY. 


John Halsey was a Boston man, of New-Eng- 
land, commanded the Charles, brigantine, and went 
out with a commission from the governor, to cruise 
on the banks of Newfoundland, where he took a 
French banker, which he appointed to meet him at 
Fayal; but missing his prize here, he went among 
the Canary Islands, where he took a Spanish barca- 
longa, which he plundered and sunk: from thence 
he went to the island of Bravo, one of the Cape-de- 
YerdSjWherehe wooded and watered, turned ashore 
his lieutenant, and several of his men here running 
away from him, the governor sent them on board 
again, his commission being as yet in force. From 
hence he stood away to the southward, and doub¬ 
ling the Cape of Good Hope, made for Madagascar 
and the bay of Augustin, where he took in wood and 
water, with some straggling seamen, who were cast 
away in the Degrave Indiamen, Capt. Young, com¬ 
mander. After this, lie shaped his course for the 
Bed Sea, and met with a Dutchman of 60 guns, 
coming from Mocha, whom he kept company with 







CAPTAIN HALSEY. * 97 

a week. Though he was resolved upon turning pi¬ 
rate, he intended to rob only the Moor ships, which 
occasioned a dispute between him and his men ; 
they insisting on the ship’s being a Moor, and he 
asserting she was Dutch, was positive in his re¬ 
solve of meddling with no European ships. The 
men were for boarding, but his obstinacy not being 
to be conquered, they broke Halsey and his gun¬ 
ner, confined both, and were ready to board the 
Dutchman, when one of the crew perceiving he was 
abou to run out his lower tier, knocked down the 
quarter-master (whose business it is to be at the 
helm, in time of chase or engagement, according to 
the rules of pirates) clapped the helm hard a-weth- 
er, and wore the brigantine. TheDutchman stayed, 
and fired a shot, which taking a swivel gun, carried 
it aft, narrowly missed the man at helm, and shat¬ 
tered the taffarel. The men perceiving they had 
caught a Tartar, made the best of their way to 
shake her off, and some were running down be¬ 
tween decks, whom the surgeon pricked up again 
with his sword, though he was no way consenting 
to their designed piracy. The captain and gunner 
were again reinstated after they had seen their mis¬ 
take, and then they steered for the Nicobar Islands, 
where they met with a country ship, called the 
Buffalo, commanded by Capt. Buckley, an English¬ 
man, coming from Bengal, which they took after a 
short engagement there being only threeEuropeans 
on board, the captain and two mates; the rest were 
Moors. This ship fell seasonably in their way, she 
being bound for Achen, with butter, rice, and cloth, 
and the pirates, at that time, were in great straits 
both for provision and clothing. They took the 
two mates to sea with them, but left the captain 
and the Moors at Cara Nicobar, at an anchor, and 
then took a cruise. Capt. Buckley, who was sick, 
died before their return. In the cruise they met 
9 


98 CAPTAIN HALSEY* 

Captain Collins, in a country sloop, bound also to 
Achen. He had also two English mates with him, 
but the rest of his company consisted of Moors. 
Him they carried to the same harbour where they 
left the Buffalo. 

Here a dispute arose among the pirates. Some 
were for returning to the West-Indies, others were 
against it, for they had got no money, and that was 
what engaged their search. They parted upon 
this; one part went on board the Buffalo, made one 
Rowe captain, and Myers, a Frenchman, master, 
whom they had picked up at Madagascar. The 
sloop’s deck they ripped up, and mended with it the 
bottom of the brigantine which Halsey still com¬ 
manded. The ship shaped her course for Madagas¬ 
car, and the brigantine made for the straits of Ma¬ 
lacca, to lie in the track of the Manilla ships. I 
must observe, that Capt. Buckley’s two mates, 
whom they intended to force with them, were by 
strength of entreaty, permitted to go away with a 
canoe. In these straits, they met an European built 
ships, of 26 guns, which they had not the courage 
to attack, being soured by the Dutchman* They 
afterwards stood in shore, and came to an anchor. 
A few days after they made a vessel, which they 
supposed a China junk, and gave chase, but when 
they came pretty nigh, notwithstanding thepilot as¬ 
sured them she was what they supposed, they swore 
it was a Dutchman, and would not venture upon 
him; so leaving off their chase they stood in shore, 
and came again to an anchor under the peninsula. 
They lay here some days, and then spied a tall ves¬ 
sel, which they chased, and which proved to be the 
Albemarle East-Indiamen, Capt. Bews, command¬ 
er, coming from China. They came up with him, 
but thinking it too warm a ship after exchanging a 
few shot, the brigantine made off, and the Albemarle 
chased in her turn. They however got clear, hav- 


CAPTAIN HALSEY. 99 

ing a better share of heels, and came again to an 
anchor. Having not above 40 hands, the water 
growing scarce, and not daring to venture ashore 
for fear of the Dutch, a council was called, and it 
was resolved to make the best of their way to Mada¬ 
gascar, to pick up more hands, refresh, and set out 
on new adventures. Pursuant to this resolution, 
they steered for that island, but fell in their way on 
Mascarenhas, where, making a small present to the 
governor, they were supplied with what they want¬ 
ed. From hence they went to a place on Madagas¬ 
car, called by the pirates Hopeful Point; by the na¬ 
tives, Harangby, near the island of St. Mary’s in the 
lat. of 17, 40, S. where they met with the Buffalo, 
and the Dorothy, a prize, made by Capt. Thomas 
White and his company, being about 90 or 100 
men, settled near the same place, in petty govern¬ 
ments of their own, having some of them 5 or 600, 
some 1000 negro subjects, who acknowledged their 
sovereignty. Here they again repaired their brig¬ 
antine, took in provisions and all necessaries, aug¬ 
mented their company to about 100 men, and set 
out for the Red Sea. They touched at Johanna, and 
there took in a quantity of goats and cocoa nuts for 
fresh provisions, and thence in eleven days reached 
the Straits of Babelmandel. They had not cruised 
here many days, when they spied the Moorish fleet 
from Mocha and Jufa, consisting of 25 sail, which 
they fell in with, and had been taken, if their oars 
had not helped them off, it falling a dead calm. 
They had not apprehended the danger so great, if 
they had not judged these ships convoyed by some 
Portuguese men of war. Some days after this, they 
met a one mast vessel, called a grab, coming from 
Mocha, which they spied within gun-shot in a thick 
fog: they fired a shot which cut her halliards, and 
then took possession of her with their boats. She 
was laden with drugs, but they took only some ne- 


100 CAPTAIN HALSEY, 

cessaries and 2000 dollars; and having learned that 
four English vessels lay at Mocha, of which one 
was from Jufa, they let her go. 

Three days after they spied the four ships, which 
they at first took to be the trees of Babelmandel. 
At night they fell in with, and kept them company 
till morning, the trumpets sounding on both sides 
all the time, for the pirate had two on board as well 
as the English. When it was clear day, the four 
ships drew into a line, for they had hailed the pirate, 
who made no ceremony of owning who he was, by 
an answering according to their manner, From the 
s$as. The brigantine bore up till she had slung her 
gaff. One of the ships perceiving this, advised 
Capt. Jago, who led the van, in a ship of 24 guns 
and 70 men, to give chase, for the pirate was on the 
run; but a mate, who was acquainted with the way 
of working among pirates, answered he would find 
his mistake, and said he had seen many a warm 
day, but feared this would be the hottest. The brig¬ 
antine turned up again, and coming astern, clapped 
the Rising Eagle aboard, a ship of 10 guns, and the 
sternmost. Though they entered their men, tlieRis- 
ing Eagle held them a warm dispute for three quar¬ 
ters of an hour, in which Capt. Chamberlain’s chief 
mate and several others were killed, the purser 
was wounded, jumped overboard and drowned. In 
the mean while the other ships called to Capt. Jago 
to board the pirate; who bearing away to clap him 
aboard, the pirate gave him a shot, which raked him 
fore and aft, and determined Capt. Jago to get out 
of danger; for he run away with all the sail he could 
pack, though he was fitted out to protect the coast 
against pirates. His example was followed by the 
rest, every one steering a different coast. Thus 
they became masters of the Rising Eagle. I cannot 
but take notice, that the second mate of the Rising 
Eagle, after quarters were caWed for, fired from out 



CAPTAIN HALSEY. 101 

the forecastle, and killed two of the pirates, one of 
whom was the gunner’s consort, who would have 
revenged his death by shooting the mate, but seve¬ 
ral Irish and Scots, together with one Captain Tho¬ 
mas White, once a commander among the pirates, 
but then a private man, interposed and saved him, 
in regard that he was an Irishman. They examined 
the prisoners to know which was the ship from Ju 
that had money onboard; and having learned it was 
the Essex, they gave chase, came up with her, hoist¬ 
ed the bloody flag at the main-mast-head, fired one 
single gun, and she struck, though she was fitted 
for close quarters, and there was not on board the 
brigantine above 20hands, and the prize was astern 
so far, that her top-mast scarce appeared out of the 
water. In chasing this ship, they passed the other 
two, who held the fly of their ensigns in their hands 
ready to strike. When the ship had struck, the cap¬ 
tain of her asked, who commanded the brigantine? 
He was answered, Capt. Halsey. Asking again, 
who was quarter-master? He was told Nathaniel 
North, to whom he called, as he knew him very 
well. North, learning his name was Punt, said, 
Capt. Punt , lam sorry you are fallen into our hands. 
He was civilly treated, and nothing belonging to 
himself or the English gentlemen, who were passen¬ 
gers, touched, though they made bold to lay hands 
on £40,000 in money, belonging to the ship. They 
had about £10,000 in money out of the Rising Ea¬ 
gle. They discharged the Essex, and with the other 
prize and the brigantine, steered for Madagascar, 
where they arrived and shared their booty. Some 
of the passengers, who had been so well treated, 
came afterwards with a small ship from India (with 
license from the governofrof Madras) called the 
Greyhound, laden with necessaries, in hopes to bar¬ 
ter with the pirates for the dry goods they had tak¬ 
en, and recover them at an easy rate. They were 


102 CAPTAIN HALSEY, 

received very kindly, an invoice of their goods was 
asked, the goods agreed for, shared and paid in mo¬ 
ney and bale goods. In the mean while came in a 
ship from Scotland, called the Neptune, 26guns, 54 
men, commanded by Capt. Miller, with a design to 
slave, and to go thence to Batavia to dispose of her 

t groes (having a supercargo on board, brought up 
long the Dutch) and thence to Malacca, to take 
on board the cargo of a ship, called the Speedwell, 
lost on her return from China; but finding here 
another ship trading with the pirates, and having 
many necessaries, French brandy, Madiera wine, 
and English stout on board, Capt. Millar thought 
it better to trade for money than slaves. The mer¬ 
chants of the Greyhound, nettled to see any but 
themselves take money, for the pirates never hag¬ 
gled about a price, told them, They could not do 
the governor of Madras a more grateful piece of ser¬ 
vice than to make prize of the Neptune, which was a 
ship fit for that purpose. To which some of the 
Scotch and Irish answered, The had not best put 
such a design on foot, for if the company once got 
it into their heads to take one, they would go nigh to 
take both ships. In a short time after came on a 
hurricane, which obliged the Neptune to cut away 
all her masts, and lost the three ships belonging to 
the pirates, which was their whole fleet. They hav¬ 
ing now no ship, and several of them no money, 
having been stripped at play, their thoughts were 
bent on theNeptune. The chief mate of her,Daniel 
Burgess, who had a spleen to the captain, joining 
privately with the pirates (among whom he died) 
got all the small masts and yards ashore; and the 
pirates being requested to find him proper trees 
for masting, told Capt. Miller they had found such 
as would serve his turn, desiring he would take a 
number of hands ashore to get them down to the 
water, which (he suspecting^no harm) accordingly 



captain halsey. 103* 

did, and he and his men were seized, rind the long 
boat detained ashore. The captain was forced to 
send for the second mate, and afterwards for the 
gunner; the mate, who was the captain’s brother, 
went, butthe gunner, suspectingfoul play,refused. 
In the evening, Burgess came on board, and ad¬ 
vised the surrender of the ship, which, though but 
sixteen were left on board, they scrupled, and 
proposed going under the'cover of their own guns 
to fetch their top-mast and yards, and with them 
put to sea; but the chief mate, Burgess, whose vil- 
lany was not then known, persuaded them to give 
up a slrip they could neither defend nor sail; which 
was no small satisfaction to the Greyhound, little 
thinking how soon they would meet with the same 
treatment; for two days after, the pirates manned 
the Neptune’s pinnace, seized the Greyhound, took 
away all the money they had paid, and shifting out 
of the Neptune ten pipes of Madeira, with two 
hogsheads of brandy, into the Greyhound, and put¬ 
ting on board the captain, second mate, boatswain 
and gunner of the Neptune, and about fourteen of 
her hands, ordered her to sea. The rest of the 
Neptune’s company being young men fit for their 
purpose, they detained, "most of whom, by hard 
drinking, fell into distempers and died. AstoCapt. 
Halsey, while the Scotch ship was fitting, he fell 
ill of a fever, died and was buried with great solem¬ 
nity and ceremony; the prayers of the church of 
England was read over him, colours were flying, 
and his sword and pistol laid on his coffin, which 
was covered with a ship’s jack ; as many minute 
guns fired as lie was years old, viz. 46, and three 
English vollies, and one French volley of small 
arms. He was brave in his person, courteous 
to all his prisoners, lived beloved, and died re¬ 
gretted by his own people. His grave was made 
in a garden of water-melons, and fenced in with 


104 CAPTAIN WHITE. 

pallisades to prevent his being rooted up by the 

wild hogs, of which there are plenty in those 

parts. 

P. S. The Neptune seized as above, was the year 
after Capt. Halsey’s death, ready to go to sea; but 
a hurricane happening, she was lost, and proved 
the last ship that gang of pirates ever got posses¬ 
sion of. 


CAPTAIN THOMAS WHITE. 


He was born at Plymouth, where his mother 
kept a public house. She took great care of his 
education, and when he was grown up, as he had 
an inclination to the sea, procured him the king’s 
letter. After he had served some years on board a 
man of war, he went to Barbadoes, where he mar¬ 
ried, got into the merchant service, and designed 
to settle in the island. He had the command of 
the Marygold brigantine given him, in which he 
made two successful voyages to Guinea and back 
to Barbadoes. In his third, he had the misfortune 
to be taken by a French pirate, as were several 
other English ships, the masters and inferior offi¬ 
cers of which they detained, being in want of good 
artists. The brigantine belonging to White, they 
kept f!>r their own use, and sunk the vessel they 
before sailed in ; but meeting with a ship on the 
Guinea coast more fit for their purpose, they went 
on board her, and burnt the brigantine. 

It is not my business here to give an account of 
this French pirate, any father than Capt. White’s 




CAPTAIN WHITE. 105 

story obliges me, though I beg leave to take notice 
of their barbarity to the English prisoners, for they 
would set them up as a butt or mark to shoot at; 
several of whom were thus murdered in cool 
blood, by way of diversion. 

White was marked out for a sacrifice by one of 
these villains, who, for I know not what reason, 
had sw r orn his death which he escaped thus. One 
of the crew, who had a friendship for White, knew 
this fellows design to kill him in the night, and 
therefore advised him to lie between him and the 
ship’s side, with intention to save him; which in¬ 
deed he did, but was himself shot dead by the mur 
derous villain, w ho mistook him for White. 

After some time cruising along the coast, the 
pirates doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and shap¬ 
ed their course for Madagascar, where, being drunk 
and mad, they knocked their ship on the head, at 
the south end of the island, at a place called by the 
natives Elexa. The country thereabouts was go¬ 
verned by a king, named Mafaly. 

When the ship struck, Capt. White, Capt. Bore- 
man, (born in the Isle of Wight, formerly a lieute¬ 
nant of a man of war, but in the merchant’s service 
when he fell into the hands of the pirates) Capt. 
Bowen and some other prisoners, got into the 
long-boat, and with broken oars and barrel staves, 
vrhich they found in the bottom of the boat, pad- 
died to Augustin Bay, which is about 14 or 15 
leagues from the wreck, w here they landed, and 
were kindly received by the king of Bavaw r (the 
name of that part of the island) w ho spoke good 
English. 

They stayed here a year and a half at the king’s 
expense, who gave them a plentiful allowance ot 
provision, as was his custom to all white men, who 
met with any misfortune on his coast. His huma¬ 
nity not only provided for such, but the first Euro- 


106 CAPTAIN VVHIET. 

pean vessel that came in, lie always obliged to take 
in the unfortunate people, let the vessel be what it 
would; for he had no notion of any difference be¬ 
tween pirates and merchants. 

At the expiration of the above term, a pirate 
brigantine came in, on board which the king ob¬ 
liged them to enter, or travel by land to some other 
place, which they durst not do; and of two evils 
chose the least, that of going on board the pirate 
vessel which was commanded by one William 
Read, who received them very civilly. 

This commander went along the coast, arid 
picked up what Europeans he could meet with. 
His crew, however, did not exceed forty men. He 
would have been glad of taking on board some of 
the wrecked Frenchmen, but for the barbarity 
they had used towards the English prisoners. 
However, it was impracticable, for the French 
pretending to lord it over the natives, whom they 
began to treat inhumanly, were set upon by them, 
one half of their number cut off, and the other half 
made slaveso 

Read, with this gang, and a brigantine of 60 tons, 
steered his course for the gulf of Persia, where they 
met a grab (a one masted vessel) of about 200 tons, 
which was made prize. They found nothing on 
board but bale goods, most of which they threw 
overboard to search for gold, and to make room in 
the vessel; but as they learned afterwards, they 
threw over, in their search, what they so greedily 
hunted after, for there was a considerable quantity 
of gold concealed in one of the bales they tossed 
into the sea. 

In this cruise Capt.Read fell ill and died, and was 
succeeded by one James. The brigantine being 
small, crazy, and worm-eaten, they shaped their 
course for the island of Mayotta, where they took 
out the masts of the brigantine, fitted up the grab. 


CAPTAIN WHITE. 107 

aiul made a ship of her. Here they took in a quan¬ 
tity of fresh provisions, which is in this island very 
plentiful, and very cheap; and found a twelve oar- 
^d boat, which formely belonged to the Ruby East- 
indiamen, which had been lost there. 

They stayed here all the monsoon time, which 
is about six months; after which they resolved for 
Madagascar. As they came in with the land, they 
spied a sail coming round from the East side of the 
island. They gave chase on both sides, so that 
they soon met. They hailed each other, and re¬ 
ceiving the same answer from each vessel, viz .from 
the seas, they joined company. 

This vessel was a small French ship, laden with 
liquors from Martinico, first commanded by one 
Fourgette, to trade with the pirates for slaves, at 
Ambonawoula, on the East side of the island, in the 
lat. of 17 degrees 30 minutes and was by them 
taken after the following manner. 

The pirates, who were headed by George Booth, 
now commander of the ship, went on board (as 
they had often done) to the number of ten, and car¬ 
ried money with them, under pretence of purchas¬ 
ing what they wanted. This Booth had formerly 
been gunner of a pirate ship, called the Dolphin. 
Capt Fourgette was pretty much upon his guard, 
and searched every man as he came over the side, 
and a pair of pocket pistols were found upon a 
Dutchman, who was the first entered. The cap¬ 
tain told him, he teas a rogue , arid had a design upon 
his ship , and the pirates pretended to be so angry 
with this fellow’s offering to come on board with 
arms, that they threatened to knock him on the 
head, and tossingly him rough into the boat, order¬ 
ed him ashore, though they had before taken an 
oath on the bible, either to cany the ship or die 
in the undertaking. i 

They were all searched, but they however con- 


108 CAPTAIN WHITE, 

trived to get on board four pistols, which were all 
the arms they had for the enterprise, though Four- 
gette had 20 hands on board, and his small arms 
on the awning, to be in readiness. 

The captain invited them into the cabin to din¬ 
ner, but Booth chose to dine with the petty officer 
thoughoneJohnson,Isaac, andanother, went down. 
Booth was to give the watch-word, which was 
hurrah. Standing near the awning, and being a 
nimble fellow, at one spring threw himself upon 
it, drew the arms to him, fired his pistol forward 
among the men, one of whom he wounded, (who 
jumping overboard was lost) and gave the sig¬ 
nal. 

Three, I said, were in the cabin, and seven upon 
deck, who with handspikes and the arms seized, 
secured the ship’s crew. The captain and his two 
mates, who were at dinner in the cabin, hearing the 
pistol, fell upon Johnson, and stabbed him in seve¬ 
ral places with their forks, but they being silver did 
him no great damage. Fourgette snatched his 
piece, which he snapped at Isaac’s breast several 
times,’ but it would not go off. At last, finding his 
resistance vain, he submitted, and the pirates set 
him, and those of his men, who would not join them, 
on shore, allowing him to take his books, papers, 
and whatever else he claimed as belonging to him-, 
self; and besides treating him very humanely, gave 
him several casks of liquor, with arms and powder, 
to purchase provisions in the country. 

I hope this digression, as it was in a manner 
needful, will be excused. I shall now proceed. 

After they had taken in the Dolphin’s company, 
which were on the island, and increased their crew, 
by that means, to the number of 80 hands, they 
sailed to St. Mary’s, where Capt. Mosson’s ship lay 
at anchor, between the island and the main. This 
gentleman and his whole ship’s company had been 


CAPTAIN WHITE. 109 

cut off, at the instigation of Ort-Vantyle, a Dutch¬ 
man of New-York. 

Out of her they took water casks and other 
necessaries; which having done, they designed for 
the river Methelage. On the west side of Mada¬ 
gascar, in the lat. of 16 degrees or thereabouts, to 
salt up provisions and to proceed to the East In¬ 
dies, cruise off the islands of St. John, and lie in 
wait for the Moor ships from Mocha 

In their way to Methelage they fell in (as I have 
said) with the pirate, onboard of which was Capt. 
W bite. They joined company, came to an anchor 
together in the above named river, where they had 
cleaned, salted, and taken in their provisions, and 
were ready to go to sea, when a large ship appear¬ 
ed in sight, and stood into the same river. 

The pirates knew not whether she was a mer¬ 
chantman or man of war. She had been the latter, 
belonging to the French king, and could mount 50 
guns; but being taken by the English, she was 
bought by some London merchants, and fitted out 
from that port to slave at Madagascar, and go to 
Jamaica. The captain was a young, inexperienc¬ 
ed man, who was put in with a nurse. 

The pirates sent their boats to speak with them, 
but the ship firing at them, they concluded it a 
man of war, and rowed ashore; the grab standing 
in, and not keeping her wind so well as the French 
built ship, run among a parcel of mangroves, and a 
stump piercing her bottom, she sunk: the other run 
aground, let go her anchor, and came to no damage, 
for the tide of flood fetched her off. 

The captain of the Speaker, for that was the 
name of the ship which frightened the pirates, waa 
not a little vain of having forced these two vessels 
ashore, though he did not know whether they were 
Dilates or merchantmen, and could not help ex¬ 
pressing himself in these words: “How will my 


110 CAPTA Iff VniTTEr 

name ring on the exchange, when it is known I 
have run two pirates agroundwhich gave handle 
to a satirical return from one of his men after he 
was taken, who said, “Lord! how our captain’s 
name will ring on the exchange, when it is heard, 
he frightened two pirate ships ashore, and was ta¬ 
ken by their two boats afterwards.” 

When the Speaker came within shot, she fired 
several times at the two vessels; and when she 
came to an anchor, several more into the country, 
which alarmed the negroes, who, acquainting their 
king, he would allow him no trade, till the pirates 
living ashore, and who had a design on his ship, 
interceded for them, telling the king, they were 
their countrymen, and what had happened was 
through a mistake, it being a custom among them 
to fire their guns by way of respect, and it was ow 
ing to the gunner of the ship’s negligence that they 
fired shot. 

The captain of the Speaker sent his purser 
ashore, to go up the country to the king, who liv¬ 
ed about 24 miles from the coast, to carry a couple 
of small arms inlaid with gold, a couple of brass 
blunderbusses, and a pair of pistols, as presents, 
and to require trade. As soon as the purser was 
ashore,he was taken prisoner, by one Tom Collins, 
aWelchman, born inPembroke, who lived on shore, 
and had belonged to the Charming Mary, of Bar- 
badoes, which went out with a commission but was 
converted to a pirate. He told the purser he was 
his prisoner, and must answer the damage done 
two merchants who were slaving. The purser an¬ 
swered, that he was not commander; that the 
captain was a hot rash youth, put into business by 
his friends, which he did not understand; but how¬ 
ever, satisfaction should be made. He was carried 
by Collins on board Booth’s ship, where, at first, he 
was talked to in pretty strong terms ; but after a 


CAPTAIN WHITE. Ill 

while very civilly used, and the next morning sent 
up to the king with a guide, and peace made for 
him. 

The king allowed them trade, and sent down the 
usual presents, a couple of oxen between twenty 
and thirty people laden with rice, and as many 
more with the country liquor, called loke . 

The captain then settled the factory on the shore 
side, and began to buy slaves and provisions. The 
pirates were among them, and had opportunities of 
sounding the men, and knowing in what posture the 
ship lay. They found by one Hugh Man, belonging 
to the Speaker, that there were not above 40 men 
on board, and that they had lost the second mate 
and 20 hands in the long-boat, on the coast, before 
they came into this harbour, but that they kept a 
good look out, and had their guns ready primed. 
However, he, for a hundred pounds, undertook to 
wet all the priming, and assist in taking the ship. 

After some days the captain of the Speaker came 
on shore, and was received with a great deal of 
civility by the heads of the pirates, having agreed 
before to make satisfaction. In a day or two after, 
he was invited by them to cat a barbacued shoat, 
which invitation he accepted. After dinner, Capt. 
Bowen, who was, I have already said, a prisoner 
on board the French pirate, but now become one 
of the fraternity, and master of the grab, went out, 
and returned with a case of pistols in his hand, 
and told the captain of the Speaker, whose name I 
won’t mention, that he was his prisoner. He asked, 
upon what account ? Bowen answered, “they want¬ 
ed a ship, his was a good one, and they were re¬ 
solved to have her, to make amends for the damage 
lie had done them.” 

In the mean while his boat’s crew, and the rest 
of his men ashore, were told by others of the pi¬ 
rate who were drinking with them, that they were 


112 CAPTAIN WHITE, 

also prisoners: some of them answered, Zound' 
we don't trouble our heads what ive are , let's have 
t'other bowl of punch. 

A watch word was given, and no boat to be ad¬ 
mitted on board the ship. This word, which was 
for that night, Coventry , was known to them. At 
8 o’clock they manned the twelve-oared boat, and 
the one they found at Mayotta, with 24 men, and 
set out for the ship. When they were put off, the 
captain of the Speaker desired them to come back 
as he wanted to speak with them. Capt. Booth 
asked what he wanted! He said, “they could nev 
ertake his ship.” “Then,” said Booth, “we’ll die 
in or along side of her.”—“But,” replied the cap¬ 
tain, “ if you will go with safety, don’t board oil 
the larboard side for there is a gun out of the 
steerage loaded with partridge, which will clear the 
decks.” They thanked him, and proceeded. 

When they were near the ship they were hailed, 
and the answer was, the Coventry. “ All well,” said 
the mate, “ get the lights over the sidebut spying 
the second boat, he asked what boat that was ? 
One answered, it was a raft of water; another that 
it was a boat of beef; this disagreement in the an¬ 
swers made the mate suspicious, who cried out— 
Pirates , take to your arms my lads , and immediately 
clapped a match to a gun, which, as the priming 
was before wet by the treachery of Hugh Man. 
only fizzed. They boarded in the instant, and 
made themselves masters of her, without the loss 
of a man on either side. 

The next day they put necessary provisions on 
board the French built ship, and gave her to the 
captain of the Speaker, and those men who would 
go off with him, among whom was Man, who had 
betrayed his ship; for the pirates had both paid him 
the £100 agreed, and kept his secret. The captain 
having thus lost his ship, sailed in that which the 


CAPTAIN WHITE. 113 

pirates gave him, for Johanna, where he fell ill and 
died with grief. 

The pirates having here victualled, they sailed 
for the Bay of St. Augustine where they took in 
between 70 and 80 men, who had belonged to the 
ship Alexander commanded by Capt. James, a pi¬ 
rate. They also took up her guns, and mounted 
the Speaker with 54, which made up their num¬ 
ber 240 men, besides slaves, of which they had 
about 20. 

From hence they sailed for the East-Indies, but 
stopped at Zanguebar for fresh provisions, where 
the Portuguese had once a settlement, but now in¬ 
habited by Arabians. Some of them went ashore 
with the captain to buy provisions. The captain 
was sent for by the governor, who went with about 
14 in company. They passed through the guard, 
and when they had entered the governor’s house, 
they were all cut off; and, at the same time, others 
who where in different houses of the town were set 
upon, which made them lly to the shore. The long¬ 
boat, which lay off a grappling, was immediately 
put in by those who looked after her. There were 
not above half a dozon of the pirates who brought 
their arms ashore, but they plied them so well, for 
they were in the boat, that most of the men got 
into her. The quarter-master ran down sword in 
hand, and though lie was attacked by many, he be¬ 
haved himself so well, that he got into a little ca¬ 
noe, put off, and reached the long-boat. 

In the interim, the little fort the Arabians had, 
played upon the ship, which returned the salute 
very warmly. Thus they got on board, with the 
loss of Capt Booth and 20 men, and set sail for the 
East-Indies. When they were under sail, they went 
to voting for a new captain, and the quarter-master, 
who had behaved so well in the last affair with the 
Arabians, was chosen; but he declining all com- 


114 CAPTAIN WHITE, 

mand, the crew made choice of Bowen for captain 
Pickering to succeed him as master, Samuel He- 
rault, a Frenchman, for quarter-master, and Natha¬ 
niel North for captain quarter-master. 

Things being thus settled, they came to the 
mouth of the Red Sea, and fell in with 13 sail of 
Moor ships, which they kept company with the 
greater part of the day, but afraid to venture on 
them, as they took them for Portuguese men of war. 
At length part were for boarding, and advised it. 
The captain though he said little, did not seem in 
dined, for he was but a young pirate, though an old 
commander of a merchantman. Those who pushed 
for boarding, then desired Capt. Boremen, already 
mentioned, to take the command; but he said he 
would not be an usurper ; that nobody was more fit 
for it than he who had it; that for his part he would 
stand by his fuzil, and went forward to the forecas¬ 
tle with such as would have him take the command, 
to be ready to board; on which, the captain’s quar¬ 
ter-master said, if they were resolved to engage, 
their captain, (whose representative he was) did not 
want resolution; therefore ordered them to get 
their tacks on board (for they had already made a 
clear ship) and get ready for boarding; which they 
accordingly did, and coming up with the sternmost 
ship, they fired a broadside into her, which killed 
two Moors, clapped her on board and carried her; 
but night coming on, they made only this prize, 
which yielded them <£500 per man. From hence 
they sailed to the coast of Malabar. The adven¬ 
tures of these pirates on this coast are already set 
down in Captain Bowen’s life, to which I refer the 
reader, and shall only observe, that Capt. White 
was all this time before the mast, being a forced 
man from the beginning. 

Bowen’s crew dispersing, Capt. White went to 
Methelage, where he lived ashore with the king 


captain white. 115 

not having an opportunity of getting off the island, 
till another pirate ship, called the Prosperous, com¬ 
manded by one Howard, who had been bred a light¬ 
erman on the river Thames, came in. This ship 
was taken at Augustin, by some pirates from shore, 
. and the crew of their own long-boat, which joined 
them, at the instigation of one Ranten, boatswain’s 
mate, who sent for water. They came on board 
in the night and surprised her, though not without 
resistance, in which the captain and chief mate 
were killed, and several others wounded. 

Those who were ashore with Capt. White, re¬ 
solving to enter in this ship, determined him to go 
also, rather than be left alone with the natives, 
hoping, by some accident or other, to have an op¬ 
portunity of returning home. He continued on 
board this ship, in which he was made quarter-mas¬ 
ter, till they met with, and all went on board of Bow¬ 
en, as is set down in his life, in which ship he con¬ 
tinued after Bowen left them. At Port Dolphin he 
went off in the boats to fetch some of the crew left 
ashore, the ship being blown to sea the night before. 
The ship not being able to get in,and he supposing 
her gone to the west side of the island, as they had 
formerly proposed, lie steered that course in his 
boat with 26 men. They touched at Augustin, ex¬ 
pect the ship, but she not appearing in a week, the 
time they waited, the king ordered them to be gone, 
telling them they imposed on him with- lies, for he 
did not believe they had any ship: however he gave 
them fresh provision: they took in water, and made 
for Methelage. Here as Capt. White was known 
to the king, they were kindly received, and stayed 
about a fortnight in expectation of the ship, but 
she not appearing, they raised their boat a streak, 
salted the provision the king gave them, put water 
aboard, and stood for the north end of the island, 
designing to go round, believing their ship might 


116 CAPTAIN WHITE, 

be at the island of St. Mary. When they came to 
the north end, the current, which sets to the N. W. 
for eight months in the year, was so strong they 
found it impossible to get round. Wherefore they 
got into a harbour, of which there are many for 
small vessels. Here they stayed about three weeks* 
or a month, when part of the crew were for burning 
the boat, and travelling over land to a black king of 
their acquaintance, who name was Reberimbo, 
who lived at a place called Manangaromasigh, in 
lat. 15 deg. or thereabouts. As this king had been 
several times assisted by the whites in his wars, he 
was a great friend to them. Capt.White dissuaded 
them from this undertaking, and with much ado, 
saved the boat; but one half of the men being re¬ 
solved to go by land, they took what provisions th ey 
thought necessary, and set out. Capt.White, and 
those who stayed with him, convoyed them a day’s 
journey, and then returning, he got into the boat 
with his companions, and went back toMethelage, 
fearing these men might return, prevail with the 
rest, and burn the boat. 

Here he built a deck on his boat, and lay by three 
months, in which time there came in three pirates 
with a boat, who had formerly been trepanned on 
board the Severn and Scarborough men of war, 
which had been loking for pirates on the east side; 
from which ships they made their escape atMohila, 
in a small canoe to Johanna, and from Johanna to 
Mayotta, where the king built them the boat which 
brought them to Methelege. The time of the cur¬ 
rent s setting with violence to the N. W. beingover, 
they proceeded together in White’s boat (burning 
that of Mayotta) to the north end, where the cur^ 
rent running vet too strong to get round, they w T ent 
into a harbour and stayed there a month, maintain¬ 
ing themselves with fish and wild hogs, of which 
there was a great plenty. At length, having fine 





CAPTAIN WHITE. 117 

weather, and the strength of the current abating, 
they got round; and after sailing about 40 miles on 
the east side, they went into a harbour, where they 
found a piece of a jacket, which they knew belong¬ 
ed to one of those men who had left them to go 
over land. He had been a forced man, and a ship 
carpenter. This they supposed he had torn to wrap 
round his feet: that part of the country being bar¬ 
ren and rocky. As they sailed along this coast, 
they came to an anchor in convenient harbours 
every night, till they got as far as Manangaro- 
maisigh, where king Reberimbo resided, where 
they went in to inquire for their men, who left them 
at the north end, and to recruit with provisions. 
The latter was given them, but they could get no 
information of their companions. 

From hence they went to the island of St. Mary, 
where a canoe came off to them with a letter 
directed to any white man. They knew it to be 
the hand of one of their former shipmates. The 
contents of this letter was to advise them to be on 
their guard, and not trust too much to the blacks of 
this place, they having been formerly treacherous. 
They inquired after their ship, and were informed, 
that the company had given her to the Moors, who 
were gone away with her, and that they themselves 
were settled at Amboynavoula, about 20 leagues to 
the southward of St. Mary, where they lived among 
the negroes as so many sovereign princes. 

One of the blacks, who brought off the letter went 
on board their boat,carried them to the place called 
Olumbah, a point of land made by a river on one 
side, and the sea on the other, where twelve of 
them lived together in a large house they had built, 
and fortified with about twenty pieces of cannon. 

The rest of them were settled in small companies 
of about 12 or 14 together, more or less, up the 
said river, and along the coast, every nation by 


118 CAPTAIN WHITE, 

itself, as the English, French, Dutch &c. Thr.v 
made inquiry of their consorts after the different 
prizes which belonged to them, and they found all 
very justly laid by to be given them, if ever they 
returned, as were what belonged to the men who 
went over land. Capt. White, hankering after 
home, proposed going out again in the boat; for 
he was averse to settling with them; and many 
others agreed to go under his command; and if they 
could meet with a ship to carry them to Europe, 
to follow their old vocation. But the others did not 
think it reasonable he should have the boat, but 
that it should be set to sale for the benefit of the 
company. Accordingly it was set up, and Capt. 
White bought it for 400 pieces of eight, and with 
some of his old consorts, whose number was in¬ 
creased by others of the ship’s crew, he went back 
the way he had come to Methelage. Here he met 
with a French ship of about 50 tons, and 6 guns, 
which had been taken by some pirates who lived at 
Maratan, on the east side of the island, and some 
of the Degrave East-Indiaman’s crew, to whom the 
master of her refused a passage to Europe ; for as 
he had himself been a pirate, and quarter-master to 
Bowen, in the Speaker, he apprehended their tak¬ 
ing away his ship. War then subsisting between 
England and France, he thought they might do it 
without being called in question as pirates. The 
pirates who hadbeen concerned in taking Herault’s 
ship, for that was his name, had gone up the coun¬ 
try, and left her to the men belonging to the De¬ 
grave who had fitted her up, cleaned and tallowed 
hep, and got in some provision, with a design to go 
to the East-Indies, that they might light on some 
ship to return to their own country. 

Capt. White, finding these men proposed joining 
him, and going round to Ambonavoula, to make up 
a company, it was agreed upon, and they unani- 






CAPTAIN WHITE. 119 

mously chose him commander. They accordingly 
put to sea, and stood away round the south end of 
the island, and touched at Don Mascarenhas, where 
he took in a surgeon, and stretching over again f o 
Madagascar, fell in with Ambonavoula, and maue 
up his complement of 60 men. From hence he 
shaped his course for the island of Mayotta, where 
he cleaned his ship, and waited for the season to 
go into the Red Sea. His provisions being taken 
in, the time proper, and the ship well fitted, he 
steered for Babelmandel, and running into a har¬ 
bour, waited for the Mocha ships. 

He here took two grabs laden with provisions, 
and having some small money and drugs aboard. 
These he plundered of what was for his turn, kept 
them a fortnight by him, and let them go. Soon after 
they spied a lofty ship, upon which they put to sea; 
but finding her European built, and too strong to 
attempt, for it wasa Dutchman, they gave over the 
chase, and were glad to shake him off, and return 
to their station. Fancying they were here discover¬ 
ed, from the coast of Arabia, or that the grabs had 
given information of them they stood over for the 
Ethiopian shore, keeping a good look out for the 
Mocha ships. A few days after, they met with a 
large ship of about 1000 tons and 600 men, called 
the Malabar, which they chased, kept campany 
with all night, and took in the morning, with the 
loss of only their boatswain, and two or three men 
wounded. In the taking this ship, they damaged 
their own so much, by springing their foremast, 
carrying away their bowsprit, and beating in part 
of their upper works,that they did not think her lon¬ 
ger fit for their use. They therefore filled her with 
prisoners, gave them provision and sent themaway. 

Some days after this they spied a Portuguese 
man of war of 44 guns, which they chased, but gave 
it over, by carrying away their main-top-mast, so 


120 CAPTAIN WHITE. 

that they did not speak with her, for the Portu¬ 
guese took no notice of them. Four days after 
they had left this man of war, they fell in with a 
Portuguese merchantman, which they chased with 
English colours flying. The chase, taking White 
for an English man of war or East-Indiaman, made 
no sail to get from him, but on his coming up, 
brought to, and sent his boat on board with a pres¬ 
ent of sweet-meats for the English captain. His 
boat’s crew was detained, and the pirates getting 
into his boat with their arms, went on board, and 
fired on the Portuguese, who being surprised, as¬ 
ked if war was broke out between England and 
Portugal ? They answered in the affirmative, but 
the captain could not believe them. However they 
took what they liked, and kept him with them. 

After two days they met with the Dorothy, an 
English ship,Capt. Penruddock, commander, com¬ 
ing from Mocha. They exchanged several shot in 
the chase, but when they came along side of her, 
they entered their men, and found no resistance, 
she being navigated by Moors, no Europeans, 
except the officers being on board. On a vote, they 
gave Capt. Penruddock (from whom they took a 
considerable quantity of money) the Portuguese 
ship and cargo, with what bale he pleased to take 
out of his own, bid him go about his business, and 
make whathe could of her. As to the English ship, 
they kept her for their own use. 

Soon after, they plundered the Malabar ship, out 
of which they took as much moneyas came to £200 
sterling a man, but missed 50,000 sequins, which 
were hid in a jar under a cow’s stall, kept for the 
giving milk to theMoor supercargo,an ancient man. 
They then put the Portuguese and Moor prisoners 
on board the Malabar, and sent them about their 
business. The day after they had sent them away, 
one Capt. Benjamin Stacy, in a ketch of 6 guns fell 



CAPTAIN WHITE. 121 

into their hands. They took what money he had, 
and what goods and provisions they wanted. 
Among the money were 500 dollars, a silver mug 
and two spoons belonging to a couple of children 
on board, who were under the eare of Stacy. The 
children took on for their loss, and the captain ask¬ 
ing the reason of their tears, was answered by Sta¬ 
cy, that the above sum and plate was all the chil¬ 
dren had to bring them up. Capt. White made a 
speech to his men, and told them it was cruel to rob 
the innocent children; upon which, by unanimous 
consent, all was restored them again. Besides, they 
made a gathering among themselves, and made a 
present to Stacy’s mate, and other of his inferior 
officers, and about 120 dollars to the children. 
They then discharged Stacy and his crew, and 
made the best of their way out of the Red Sea. 

They came into the bay of Defarr, where they 
found a ketch at anchor, which the people had made 
prize of, by seizing the master and boat’s crew 
ashore. They found a French gentleman, one 
Monsieur Berger, on board, whom they carried 
with them, took out about 2000 dollars, and sold 
the ketch to the chief ashore for provision. 

Hence they sailed for Madagascar, but touched 
at Mascarenhas, where several of them went 
ashore with their booty, about ,£1200 a man. 
Here taking in fresh provisions, White steered for 
Madagascar, and fell in with Hopeful Point where 
they shared their goods, and took up settlements 
ashore, where White built a house, bought cattle, 
took off the upper deck of his ship, and was fitting 
her up for the next season. When she was near 
ready for sea, Capt. John Halsey, who had made a 
broken voyage, came in with a brigantine, which 
being a more proper vessel for their turn, they 
desisted from working on the ship, and those who 
had a mind for fresh adventures, went on board 


1*22 CAPTAIN CON DENT. 

Halsey among whom Capt. White entered before 
the mast. 

At his return to Madagascar, White was taken ill 
of a flux, which in about five or six months ended 
his days. Finding his time was drawing nigh, he 
made his will, left several legacies, and named three 
men of different nations, guardian to a son he had 
by a woman of the country, requiring he might be 
sent to England with the money he left him, by 
the first English ship, to be brought up in the 
Christian religion, in hopes he might live a better 
man than his father. He was buried with the same 
ceremony they used at the funerals of their com¬ 
panions, which is mentioned in the account of 
Halsey. Some years after, an English ship touch¬ 
ing there, the guardians faithfully discharged their 
trust, and put him on board with the captain, who 
brought up the boy with care, acting by him as 
became a man of probity and honour. 


CAPTAIN CONDENT. 


Captain Condent was a Plymouth man born, 
but we are as yet ignorant of the motives and time 
of his first turning pirate. He was one of those who 
thought fit to retire from Providence, on Governor 
Rogers’ arrival at that island, in a sloop belonging 
to Mr. Simpson, of New-York, a Jew merchant of 
which sloop he was then quarter-master. Soon al- 





captain condent. 123 

ter they left the island, an accident happened on 
board, which put the whole crew into consternation. 
They had among them an Indian man, whom some 
of them had beat: in revenge, he got most of the 
arms forward into the hold, and designed to blow 
up the sloop ; upon which, some advised scuttling 
the deck and throwing grenade shells down; but 
Condent said, that was too tedious and dangerous, 
since the fellow might fire through the deck and 
kill several of them. He, therefore, taking a pistol 
in one hand, and his cutlass in the other, leaped in¬ 
to the hold. The Indian discharged a piece at him, 
which broke his arm ; but, however, he ran up and 
shot the Indian. When he was dead, the crew 
hacked him to pieces, and the gunner, ripping up 
his belly, tore out his heart, broiled and ate it. 

After this, they took a merchantman called the 
Duke of York ; and some disputes arising among 
the pirates, the captain, and one half of the com¬ 
pany, went on board the prize; the other half, who 
continued in the sloop, chose Condent captain. He 
shaped his course for the Cape-de-Verd Islands, 
and in his way took a merchant ship from Madeira, 
laden with wine, bound for the West-Indies, which 
he plundered and let go; then coming to the Isle 
of May, one of the said islands, he took the whole 
salt fleet, consisting of about 20 sail. Wanting a 
boom, he took out the mainmast of one of these 
ships to supply the want. Here he took upon him¬ 
self the administration of justice, inquiring into the 
manner of the commanders behaviour to their men, 
and those against whom complaint was made he 
whipped and pickled. He took what provision and 
other necessaries he wanted,and having augmented 
his company by volunteers and forced men, he left 
the ships and sailed to St. Jago, where he took a 
Dutch ship, which had formerly been a privateer. 
This proved also an easy prize, for he fired but one 


124 CAPTAIN CONDENT. 

broadside, and clapping her on board, carried her 
without resistance, for the captain and several men 
were killed, and some wounded by his great shot. 

The ship proving for his purpose, he gave her 
the name of the Flying Dragon, went on board with 
his crew, and made a present of his sloop to a mate 
of an English prize, whom he had forced with him. 
From hence he stood away for the coast of Brazil, 
and in his cruise took several Portuguese ships, 
which he plundered and let go. 

After these, he fell in with the Wright galley, 
Capt. John Spelt, commander, hired hy the South 
Sea company, to go to the coast of Angola for 
slaves, and thence to Buenos Ayres. This ship he 
detained a considerable time, and the captain being 
his townsman, treated him very civilly. A few days 
after he took Spelt, he made prize of a Portuguese, 
laden with bale goods and stores. He new rigged 
the Wright galley, and put on board of her some of 
the goods. Soon after he had discharged the Por¬ 
tuguese, he met with a Dutch East Indiaman of 28 
guns, whose captain was killed the first broadside, 
and took her with little resistance, for he had hoist¬ 
ed the pirate’s colours on board Spelt’s ship. 

He now, with three sail, steered for the island 
of Ferdinando, where he hove down and cleaned 
the Flying Dragon. Having careened, he put 11 
Dutchmen on board Capt. Spelt, to make amends 
for the hands he had forced from him, and sent him 
away, making him a present of the goods he took 
from the Portuguese ship. When lie sailed him¬ 
self, he ordered the Dutch to stay at Ferdinando 
24 hours after his departure; threatening, if he did 
not comply, to sink his ship, if he fell a second time 
into his hands, and to put all the company to the 
sword. He then stood for the coast of Brazil, 
where he met a Portuguese man of war of 70 guns, 
which he came up with. The Portuguese hailed 


CAPTAIN CONDENT. 125 

him, and he answered, fromLondon, bound to Buenos 
Ayres. The Portuguese manned his shrouds and 
cheered him, when Condent fired a broadside and 
a volley of small arms, which began a smart en¬ 
gagement for the space of three glasses ; but Con¬ 
dent finding himself over-matched, made the best 
of his way, and being the best sailer, got off. 

A few days after, he took a vessel of the same 
nation, who gave an account, that he had killed 
above 40 men in the guarda del Costa, beside a 
number wounded. He kept along the coast to the 
southward, and took a French ship of 18 guns, la¬ 
den with wine and brandy,bound for the South Sea, 
which he carried with him into the River of Plate, 
lie sent some of his men ashore to kill some wild 
cattle, but they were taken by the crew of a Spa¬ 
nish man of war. On their examination before the 
captain, they said they were two Guinea ships, with 
slaves belonging to the South Sea company, and 
on this story were allowed to return to their boats. 
Here five of his forced men ran away, with his ca¬ 
noe; he plundered the French ship, cut her adrift, 
and she was stranded. He proceeded along the 
Brazil coast, and hearing a pirate ship was lost up¬ 
on it, and the pirates imprisoned, he used all the 
Portuguese who fell into his hand$, who were 
many, very barbarously, cutting off their ears and 
noses; and as his master was a papist, when they 
took a priest, they made him say mass at the main¬ 
mast, and would afterwards get on his back and ride 
him about the decks, or else load and drive him 
like a beast. He from this went to the Guinea 
coast, and took Capt.Hill, in the Indian Queen. 

In Luengo Bay he saw two ships at anchor, one 
a Dutchman of 44 guns, the other an English ship, 
called the Fame, Capt. Bowen, commander. They 
both cut and ran ashore; the Fame was lost, but 
the Dutch ship the pirate got off and took with him. 


126 CAPTAIN CONDENT. 

When he was at sea again, he discharged Captain 
Hill, and stood away for the East-Indies. Near the 
Cape he took an Ostend East-Indiaman, of which 
Mr. Nash a noted merchant in London, was super¬ 
cargo. Soon after he took a Dutch East-Indiaman, 
discharged theOstender, and made for Madagascar. 
At the Isle of St. Mary, he met with some of Capt. 
Halsey’s crew, whom he took on board with other 
stragglers, and shaped his course for the East-In- 
dies, and in the way, at the island of Johanna, took, 
in company with two other pirates he met at St. 
Mary’s, the Cassandra East-Indiaman, commanded 
byCapt. James Macraigh. He continued his course 
for the East-Indies, where he made a very great 
booty; and returning, touched at the isle of Masca- 
renhas, where he met with a Portuguese ship of 70 
guns, with the viceroy of Goa on board. This ship 
he made prize of, and hearing she had money on 
board, they would allow of no ransom, but carried 
her to the coast of Zanguebar, where was a Dutch 
fortification, which they took and plundered, razed 
the fort, and carried off several men voluntarily. 
From hence they stood for St. Mary’s, where they 
shared their booty, broke up their company, and 
settled among the natives. Here a snow came from 
Bristol, which they obliged to carry a petition to the 
governor of Mascarenhas for a pardon, though they 
paid the master very generously. The governor 
returned answer ne would take them into protec¬ 
tion if they would destroy their ships, which they 
agreed to, and accordingly sunk the Flying Dragon, 
&c. Condent and some others went to Mascaren¬ 
has, where Condent married the governor’s sister- 
in-law, and remained some time; but, as I have 
been credibly informed, he is since come to France, 
settled at St. Maloes, and drives a considerable 
trade as a merchant. 



CAPTAIN BELLAMY. 


127 


CAPTAIN BELLAMY. 


As we cannot, with any certainty, deduce this 
man from his origin, we shall begin where we find 
him first a declared enemy to mankind. Capt. Bel¬ 
lamy and Paul Williams, in two sloops, had been 
upon a Spanish wreck, and not finding their expec¬ 
tation answered, they resolved not to lose their 
labour, and agreed to go upon the account , a term 
among the pirates, which speaks their profession. 
The first who had the misfortune to fall in their 
way, was Capt. Prince, bound from Jamaica to Lon¬ 
don, in a galley built at that port, whose cargo con¬ 
sisted of elephant’s teeth, gold dust, and other rich 
merchandise. This prize not only enriched but 
strengthened them. They immediately mounted 
this galley with 28 guns, and put on board 150 hands, 
of different nations; Bellamy was declared captain, 
and the vessel had her old name continued, which 
was Whidaw. This happened about the latter end 
of February, 1717. They, now thus fitted for con¬ 
tinuing their desperate resolution, shaped their 
course for Virginia, which coast they very much 
infested, taking several vessels. They were upon 
shifting this station, when they were very near, as 
the psalmist expresses it, going quick denen into hell; 
for the heavens beginning to lower, pronosticatcd 
a storm. At the first appearance of the sky being 
likely to be overcast, Bellamy took in all his small 
sails," and Williams doubled-reefed his mainsail, 
’ which was hardly done when a thunder shower 
overtook them with such violence, that the Whidaw 
vvas very near oversetting. They immediately put 


128 CAPTAIN BELLAMY, 

before the wind, for they had no other way of 
working, having only the goose wings of the fore¬ 
sail to scud with. Happy for them the wind was at 
W. by N. for had it been easterly, they must have 
infallibly perished upon the coast. The storm in¬ 
creased towards night, and not only put them by 
all sail, but obliged the Whidaw to bring her yards 
aportland, and all they could do with tackles to 
the goose neck of the tiller, four men in the gun¬ 
room, and two at the wheel, was to keep her head 
to the sea, for had she once broached to, they 
must infallibly have foundered. The heavens, in 
the mean while, were covered with sheets of light¬ 
ning, which the sea, by the agitation of the saline 
particles, seemed to imitate. The darkness of the 
night was such, as the scripture says, as might he 
felt; the terrible hollow roaring of the winds, could 
be only equalled by the repeated, I may say, inces¬ 
sant claps of thunder, sufficient to strike a dread 
of the Supreme Being, who commands the sea 
and the winds, one would imagine in every heart; 
but among these wretches, the effect was different, 
for they endeavoured by their blasphemies, oaths, 
and horrid imprecations, to drown the uproar of 
jarring elements. Bellamy swore he was sorry he 
could not run out his guns to return the salute, 
meaning the thunder, that he fancied the gods had 
got drunk over their tipple, and were gone togeth¬ 
er by the ears. They continued scudding all that 
night under their bare poles: the next morning the 
mainmast beingsprung in the step, they were forced 
to cut it away, and at the same time, the mizen came 
by the board. These misfortunes made the ship 
ring with blasphemy, which was increased, when, 
by trying the pumps, they found the ship made a 
great deal of water; though by continually plying 
them, they kept it from gaining. The sloop, as well 
as the ship, was left to the mercy of the winds, 


CAPTAIN BELLAMY. 123 

dtough the former, not having a tant mast, did not 
lose it. The wind shifting round the compass, 
made so outrageous and short a sea, that they had 
little hopes ol safety; it broke upon the poop, 
drove in the taffarel, and washed the two men away 
from the wheel, who were saved in the netting. 
The wind after four days and three nights, abated 
its fury, and fixed in the N.N.E. point, hourly de¬ 
creasing, and the weather clearing up they spoke 
to the sloop, and resolved for the coast of Carolina. 
They continued this course but a day and a night, 
when the wind coming about to the southward, they 
changed their resolution to that of goin" to Rhode 
Island. All this while the Whidaw’s leak continu¬ 
ed, and it was as much as the lee pump could do to 
keep the water from gaining, though it was kept 
continually going. Jury-masts were set up, and 
the carpenter finding the leak to be in the bows, 
occasioned by the oakum working out of a seam, 
the crew became very jovial again. The sloop 
received no other damage than the loss of the main¬ 
sail, which the first flurry tore away from the boom. 
In their cruise off Rhode-Island, the beginning of 
April, they took a sloop commanded by Capt. Beer, 
belonging to Boston, in the lat. of South Carolina, 
40 leagues from land. They put the said captain 
on board the Whidaw, while they rifled and plun¬ 
dered his vessel, which Williams and Bellamy pro¬ 
posed returning to him, but the crews being averse 
to it, they sunk her, and put the captain ashore 
upon Block Island. 

I cannot pass by in silence, Capt. Bellamy’s 
speech to Capt. Beer. I am sorry they won't let 
you have your sloop again, for I scorn to do any one 

a mischief, when it is not for my advantage ; - the 

sloop , we must sink her, and she might he of use to 
you. Though you are a sneaking puppy, and so 
are all those who will submit to be governed by laws 



130 CAPTAIN BELLAMY. 

which rich men have made for their own security; 
for the cowardly whelps have not the courage other¬ 
wise to defend what they get by their knavery; but 

- ye altogether : - them for a pack of crafty 

rascals, and you, who serve them, for a parcel of 
hen-hearted numskulls. They vilify us, the scoun¬ 
drels do, when there is only this difference, they rob 
the poor under the cover of law, forsooth, and ice 
plunder the rich under the protection of our own cour¬ 
age. Had you not better make one'oj us, than sneak 
after these villains for employment ? Captain Beer 
told him, that his conscience would not allow 
him to break through the laws of God and man. 
You are a devilish conscience rascal, replied Bella¬ 
my ; I am a free prince, and I have as much autho¬ 
rity to make war on the whole world, as he who has a 
hundred sail of ships at sea, and an army of 100,000 
men in the field ; and this my conscience tells me: but 
there is no arguing with such snivelling puppies, who 
allow superiors to kick them about deck at pleasure. 

The pirates, wanting neither provisions nor wa¬ 
ter, and the Widaw’s damage being repaired, 
passed the time very jovially. 

A fortnight after settingCapt. Beer ashore, Wil¬ 
liams boarded and took a vessel off Cape Cod, 
laden with wine ; the crew of Which increased the 
number of their prisoners. They put seven men 
on board the prize, with orders to keep company 
with the ship and sloop, and left on board her the 
master. 

As they had been long off the careen, they stood 
away to the northward, and made the best of their 
way to Penobscot river. When they were at the 
mouth of it, it was thought more eligible to careen 
in the river Mechisses. They entered it as agreed, 
and run up about two miles and a half, where they 
came to an anchor with their prizes. The next 
morning all the prisoners were set ashore with 



captain Bellamy. 131 

drivers, and orders to assist in building huts; the 
guns were also set ashore, and a breast work raised, 
with embrasures for the cannon on each side of the 
river. This took up four days. A magazine was 
dug deep in the earth, and a roof raised over it by 
the poor slaves, the prisoners, whom they treated 
after the same manner as the negroes are used by 
the West-India planters. The powder being secur¬ 
ed, and every thing out, they hove down the sloop, 
cleaned her, and when she had all in again, they 
careened the Whidaw by the largest prize. 

They now thought of cruising again, and accord¬ 
ingly steered for Fortune’s Bay in Newfoundland. 
They made some prizes on the Banks, forced all 
the men, and sunk the vessels. 

They had not been long on this coast before they 
were separated by a storm, which held some days. 
Off the island of St. Paul the Whidaw spied a sail, 
which she immediately gave chase to. The ship 
brought to and lay by for her, and proved a French¬ 
man of 36 guns, carrying soldiers to Quebec. The 
Whidaw engaged with great resolution, and the 
French did not show less, for he boarded the Whi¬ 
daw and was twice put off, with the loss of men on 
both sides. Bellamy, after two hour’s engagement, 
thought the Frenchman too hard a match, and was 
for shaking him off; but his enemy was not as will¬ 
ing to part with him, for he gave chase, and as he 
sailed altogether as well as Bellamy, the latter had 
certainly been taken, and had received the due 
punishment of his crimes, had not the night com¬ 
ing on favoured his escape. He lost in this en¬ 
gagement 36 hands, besides several wounded. 

The Whidaw returned to the coast of Newfound¬ 
land, and off Placentia Bay met with his consort and 
tiie prize. They resolved to visit again the coast 
ofNew-England, the Whidaw being much shattered 
in the late engagement, having received a great 


132 CAPTAIN BELLAMY, 

many shot in her hull. They ran down this coast, 
and between St. George’s Banks ind Nantucket 
Shools, took the Mary Anne. 

The master of the vessel, taken formerly off 
Cape Cod, was left on board her, and as he was 
very well acquainted with the coast, they ordered 
him to carry the light and go ahead; and the 
pirates commonly kept him at the helm. He upon 
a night of public rejoicing, seeing all the pirates 
drunk, laid hold of the opportunity, and run his 
vessel ashore about midnight, near the land of 
Eastham, out of which he alone escaped with life. 
The Whidaw, steering after the light, met with the 
same fate. The small vessel ran into a sandy bay, 
and the men got ashore without difficulty. 

When the Whidaw struck, the pirates murdered 
all their prisoners, that is, all their forced men; as 
it is concluded, from the mangled carcasses which 
were washed ashore; but not a soul escaped out 
of her or Williams, who was also lost. 

The pirates, to the number of seven, who esca¬ 
ped, were seized by the inhabitants, and on the in¬ 
formation of the master who escaped, and on their 
own confession were imprisoned, condemned, and 
executed. They were all foreigners, very igno¬ 
rant and obstinate; but by the indefatigable pains 
of a pious and learned divine, who constantly atten¬ 
ded them; they were at length, by the special grace 
of God, made sensible of, and truly penitent, for 
the enormous crimes they had been guilty of. 




CAPTAIN FLY. 


133 


CAPTAIN WILLIAM FLY. 


As to the birth of this pirate, we can discover 
nothing by the inquiries we have hitherto made ; 
and indeed had we succeeded in our search, it 
would have been of no great consequence; for it is 
certain by the behaviour of the man, he must have 
have been of very obscure parents; and by his edu¬ 
cation, (as he was no artist) very unfit in all respects, 
except that of cruelty, for the villaneous business 
he was in. We have been informed, that he had 
been in a pirate in a private capacity, and having 
escaped justice, had an opportunity of repenting 
his former crimes, and as a foremast man, or petty 
officer, of getting his bread in a warrantable way. 
But no—ignorant as he was of letters, he was am¬ 
bitious of power, and capable of the most barbarous 
actions to acquire it. 

Capt. Green, of Bristol, in April, 1726, shipped 
this Fly as boatswain, at Jamaica, being bound, in 
the Elizabeth snow, of Bristol, for the coast of Gui¬ 
nea. Fly, who had insinuated himself with some 
of the men, whom he found ripe for any villany, 
resolved to seize the said snow, and murder the 
captain and mate, and taking the command on him¬ 
self, turn pirate. He proposed this design to his 
brothers in iniquity, who approving it, he, having 
the watch at one o’clock in the morning, on the 27th 
day of May, went up to one Morrice Cundon, then 
at the helm, accompanied by Alexander Mitchel, 
Henry Hill, Samuel Cole, Thomas Winthrop, and 
other conspirators, and swore if he spoke one word, 
or stirred either hand or foot, he would blows his 
brains out; and tucking up his shirt above the elbows 
12 


134 CAPTAIN FLY. 

with a cutlass in his hand, he, with Mitchel, went 
into the captain’s cabin, and told him he must turn 
out. The' captain, asking what was the matter, was 
answered by Mitchel, they had no time to answer 
impertinent questions ; that if he would turn out 
and go upon deck quietly, it would save them the 
trouble of scraping the cabin; if he would not, a few 
buckets of water and a scraper would take his blood 
out of the deck: that they had chosen Capt. Fly for 
commander, and would allow of no other, and would 
not waste their provisions to feed useless men. 

The Captain replied, that since they had so re¬ 
solved, he should make no resistance; but begged 
they would not murder him, since his living could 
be no obstacle to their designs; that he had never 
J)een harsh to either of them, and therefore they 
could not kill him out of revenge ; and if it was 
only for their security, he desired^ if they would not 
take his word to do nothing to obstruct the mea¬ 
sures they had resolved on, they would secure him 
in irons, till he might be put somewhere on shore, 
Ah, says Fly, to live and hang us, if ne are ever 
taken: no, no, walk up, that bite won't take; it has 
hanged many an honest fellow already . Mitchel and 
Fly then laying hold of him, pulled him out of his 
bed. The poor captain entreating them to spare 
his life for his soul’s sake, told them he would bind 
himself down by the most solemn oaths, never to 
appear against them; that he was unfit to appear 
before the judgment seat of a just and pure God ; 
that he was loaded with sins, and to take him off 
before he had washed those stains, which sullied 
his soul, by the tears of repentance, would be a 
cruelty beyond comparison greater than that of 
depriving him of life, were hepreuared for death, 
since it would be, without any offence committed 
against them, dooming him to eternal misery. 
However, if they would not be persuaded that his 



CAPTAIN FLY. 135 

life was consistent with their safety, he begged they 
would allow some time to prepare himself for the 
great change: that he begged no other mercy than 
what the justice and compassion of the laws would 

allow them, should they hereafter be taken.- 

•jour blood , said Mitch el, no preaching. Be - 

a' you will , what's that to us ? Let him look out who 
has the watch. Upon deck you dog , for we shall lose 
no more time about you. 

They hauled him into the steerage, and forced 
him upon deck, where one of the hell-hounds asked 
if he had rather take a leap like a brave fellow, or 
be tossed over like a sneaking rascal ? The cap¬ 
tain addressing himself to Fly, said, Boatswain, for 
God's sake don't throw me overboard; if you do I 
am for ever lost; Hell's the portion of my crimes. 

- him , answered Fly, since he's so Godly , we'll 

give him time to say his prayers , and I'll be parson. 
Say after me. Lord have mercy on me. Short pray¬ 
ers are best , so no more words and over with him , 
my lads. The captain still cried for mercy, and 
begged an hour’s respite only, but all in vain; he 
was seized by the villains and thrown overboard. 
He caught, however, and hung by the main sheet, 
which Winthrop seeing, fetched the cooper’s broad 
axe, and chopping off the unhappy master’s hand, 
he was swallowed up by the sea. 

The captain being thus dispatched, Thomas 
Jenkins, the mate, was secured and brought upon 
deck, to share the same cruel fate. His entreaties 
were as useless as the captain’s; the sentence they 
had passed upon him was not to be reversed; they 
were deaf to his prayers and remonstrances, strang¬ 
ers to humanity and compassion. He was of the 
captain’s mess, they said, and they should e’en drink 
together; it was a pity to part good company. 

Thus tlieyjested with his agonies. He, however, 
made some struggle,which irritating his murderers. 





136 CAPTAIN FLY 

one of them snatched up the axe, with which Win- 
throp had lopped off the captain’s hand, and gave 
him a great cut on the shoulder, by missing his head, 
where the blow was aimed, and he was thrown into 
the sea. He swam notwithstanding, and called out 
to the doctor to throw him a rope, who, poor man, 
could not hear him, being secured, and laid in irons 
in his own cabin ; and had he heard, and been able 
to have thrown the rope required, could it be ex¬ 
pected that these hardened wretches would have 
relented, and shown him mercy ? But the sinking 
man will catch at a straw, and hope, they say, is the 
last that deserts us. While we have life we are apt 
to flatter ourselves some lucky accident may fa¬ 
vour us. 

It was next debated what should be done with the 
doctor. Some were for sending him to look after 
the captain and mate; but the majority, as he was 
a useful man, thought it better to keep him. All 
obstacles being removed, Mitcliel saluted Fly cap¬ 
tain, and with the rest of the crew who had been 
in the conspiracy, with some ceremony, gave him 
possession of the great cabin. 

Here a bowl of punch being made, Morice Cun- 
don was called down, and oneJohn Fitzherbert, set 
to the helm in his place. At the same time the car¬ 
penter and Thomas Streaton were brought before 
the captain, who told them they were three rascals, 
and richly deserved to be sent after the captain and 
mate, but that they were willing to show them 
mercy, and not put them to death in cold blood and 
he would therefore only put them in irons, for the 
security of the ship’s crew. They were accordingly 
ordered out, and ironed. Fly then told his com¬ 
rades it was convenient to resolve on some course, 
when word was brought them, that a ship was very 
near them. The council broke up, and made a 
clear ship, when in a very little while after, they 













The Pirates chipping off Copt. Green's hand and dragging the Mate from 

the cabin. Page 135 . 











































































































































































































































































































































































CAP'iAtN FLY 


137 


found it was the Pompey, which liad left Jamaica 
in company with the snow. The Pompey, stand¬ 
ing for the snow which did not makefrom her, soon 
hailed and asked how Capt. Green did, and was 
answered by Fly, that he was very well. They did 
not think fit to attack this ship, but returned to 
hold their consultation, it was resolved to steer 
for North-Carolina. 

Upon their arrival on that coast they spied a 
sloop at anchor within the bar. She was called the 
John and Hannah, and commanded by Capt. Fulker 
who thinking the snow might want a pilot, stepped 
into his boat with his mate, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. 
Roan, two passengers, and a young lad, in order to 
bring her in. When they came on board, they were 
told, that the snow was from Jamaica, with a car¬ 
go. Capt.Fulker and Mr Roan were desired to walk 
down to the captain, who was in the cabin. Fly re¬ 
ceived them very civilly, ordered a bowl of punch, 
and hearingCapt. Fulker had brought another pas¬ 
senger on board Mr Atkinson was also invited down. 

The punch being brought in, Capt. Fly told his 
guest, that he was no man to mince matters; that he 
and his comrades icere gentlemen of fortune , and 
should make hold to try if Capt . Fulker's sloop teas 
a better sailer than the snow . If she was, she would 
prove much Jitter for their business , and they must 
have her. The snow came to an anchor about a 
league off the sloop, and Fly ordered Fulker, with 
six of his own hands, into the boat to bring her along¬ 
side of the snow; but the wind proving contrary, 
their endeavours proved also vain, and they return¬ 
ed again in the beat, bringing Capt. Fulker back 
with them. As soon as they got on board the snow, 
Fly fell into a violent passion, cursing and abusing 
Fulker for not bringing off the sloop. He gave him 
his reason, and said it was impossible. You lie you 
dog , replied the pirate, hit your hide shall pay for your 


138 CAPTAIN FLY. 

roguery , and if I can’t bring her off, Til burn her 
where she lies. He then ordered Cupt. Fulker to the 
geers;no reason, no arguments could prevail; he 
was stripped and lashed after a very inhuman man¬ 
ner; and the boat’s crew being sent again, with 
much ado carried her off as far as the bar, where 
she bilged and sunk. The pirates then endea¬ 
voured to set what remained of her out of water on 
fire, but they could not burn her. 

The snow getting under sail to look out for some 
booty, Fulker and the others desired they might be 
set at liberty, but it was denied them for the pre¬ 
sent, though not without a promise that they should 
be released the first vessel they toork. On the 5th 
of June they left Carolina, and the next day spied 
a sail, which proved the John and Betty, command¬ 
ed by Capt. Gale, bound from Barbadoes to Guinea. 
Fly gave chase, but finding the ship wronged him, 
he made a signal of distress, hoisting his jack at the 
main-top-mast head ; but this decoy did not hinder 
the ship making the best of her way. Fly continued 
the chase all night, and the wind slackening, he 
came within shot of the ship, and fired several guns 
ather under his black ensign. The ship beingof no 
force, and the pirates ready to board, the captain 
struck ; and Fly, manning his long-boat, the crew 
being well armed with pistols and cutlasses, wen* 
on board the prize, and sent Capt. Gale, after hav¬ 
ing secured his men, prisoner on board the snow 
This prize was of little value to the pirates, who 
took nothing but some sail-cloth and small arms, 
and after two days let her go, but took away six 
of his men, setting on board Capt. Fulker, a pas¬ 
senger, and Capt. Green’s surgeon. They kept 
Mr. Atkinson, knowing he was a good artist, and 
lately master of the Boneta brigantine, as a pilot 
for the coast of New-England, which they were 
satisfied he was well acquainted with. 


CAPTAIN FLY. 139 

Upon Mr. Atkinson’s desiring to have his liberty 
with the others, Capt. Fly refused it with the most 
horrid oaths and imprecations, and insisted upon it 
that he should act as their pilot; assuring him at the 
same time, if he pilotted them wrong, his life should 
be the forfeit. 

Mr. Atkinson answered, it was very hard he 
should be forced to take upon himself the pilotage, 
when he did not pretend to know the coast, and 
that his life should answer for any mistake his igno¬ 
rance of it might make him guilty of, and therefore 
begged he might be set on board Capt. Gale; and 
that they would trust their own knowledge, since 
he did not doubt theie being better artist on board. 
No no replied Fly, that won't do—your palavering 
won't save your bacon; so either discharge your trust 
like an honest man , (for go you shan't) or I'll send 
you with my service to the d — l: so no more words 
about the matter. 

There was no reply made, and they stood for the 
coast of New-England. OfF Delaware Bay they 
made a sloop, commanded by one Harris, bound 
fromNew-York to Pennsylvania. She had on board 
about fifty passengers. Fly gave chase, and coming 
up with her, hoisted his black ensign, and ordered 
her to strike, which she immediately did; and Fly 
sent Capt. Atkinson on board, to sail her, though 
he would not allow him (Atkinson) any arms. The 
pirates ransacked this prize, but not finding her of 
any use to them, after a detention of 24 hours, they 
let her go, with her men, excepting only a well 
made young fellow, whose name was James Ben- 
brooke, whom they kept. 

Fly,after having released the prize,ordered Capt. 
Atkinson to carry the slow into Martha’s Vineyard, 
but he wilfully missed this place. Fly, finding him¬ 
self beyond Nantucket, and that has design was 
balked, called to Atkinson, and told him he toas a 


140 CAPTAIN FLY. 

rascally scoundrel, and that it teas a piece of cruelty 
to let such a villain live, who designed the death of 
so many honest fellows, Atkinson, in his defence, 
said, he never pretended to know the coast, and 
that it was very hard he should die for being thou gilt 
an abler man than he reaby was. Had he pretend¬ 
ed to be their pilot, and did not know his business, 
he deserved punishment; but when he was forced 
upon a business which he before declared he did 
not understand, it would be certainly cruel to make 
him suffer for their mistake. You are an obstinate 
villain replied Fly, and your design is to hang us; but 
blood and wounds, you dog, you shan’t live to see it 
—and saying this, he ran into his cabin and brought 
a pistol, with design to shoot Atkinson; but by the 
interposition of Mitchel,who thought him innocent 
of any design, he escaped. 

Atkinson, who perceived his life every minute 
in danger, began to ingratiate himself with the pi¬ 
rates aud gave them hopes, that with good and gen¬ 
tle usage, he might be brought to join them. This 
he did not say in express terms, but by words he 
now and then let drop, as by accident. They were 
not a little rejoiced at the idea of having so good 
artist to join them ; nay some of them hinted to him, 
that if he would take upon him the command, they 
were ready to dispossess Capt. Fly, who carried 
his command too high, and was known to all the 
crew to be no artist, and to understand nothing be¬ 
yond the business ofaboatswain. Atkinson thought 
it his interest to keep them in the opinion that he 
would join; but always declined hearing any thing 
as to the command. 

This made him less severely used, and protected 
him from the insults of Fly, who imagined he would 
betray them the first opportunity, therefore, more 
than once proposed his being thrown overboard, 
which was never approved by the snow’s company 



CAPTAIN FLY. 141 

From Nantucket they stood to the eastward, and 
off Brown’s Bank made a fishing schooner. Fly, 
coming up with her, fired a gun, and hoisting his 
black ensign, swore, if they did not instantly bring 
to , arul send their boat on board , he would sink her . 
The schooner obeyed, and sent away her boat on 
board the snow. He examined the captain as to 
what vessels were to be met with, and promised, if 
he could put him in the way of meeting with a good 
sailer, to let him go, and give him his vessel, or he 
should otherwise keep her. The poor man told him 
he had a companion which would soon be in sight, 
and was a much better vessel. Accordingly about 
12 at noon, the same day, which was the 23d of 
June, the other schooner hove in sight; upon 
which Fly manned this prize with six pirates and 
a prisoner named George Tasker, and sent her in 
chase, having himself on board the snow, no more 
than three pirates, Capt. Atkinson, (who had work¬ 
ed himself into some favour with him) and fifteen 
forced men; but he took care to have his arms 
upon deck by him. 

The men who had not taken on with Fly, were, 
Atkinson, Capt. Fulker’s mate, and two youths be- 
lQnging to him ; the carpenter and gunner belong¬ 
ing to Capt. Green; six of Capt. Gale’s men, and 
the aforesaid Benbrooke, who belonged to Capt. 
Harris, with three of the men out of the schooner. 
Atkinson, seeing the prisoners and forced men were 
five to one of the pirates, thought of delivering him¬ 
self from the bondage he was in: and as by good 
luck several other fishing vessels hove in sight,right 
ahead of the snow, he called to Capt. Fly, and told 
him he spied several other vessels ahead, desiring 
he would come forward and bring his glass. Fly 
did so, and leaving his arms on the quarter deck, 
set on the windlass to see if he could make out what 
they were. Atkinson, who had concerted his mea 


142 CAPTAIN FLY. 

sures with one Walker and the above mentioned 
Benbrooke, secured the arms on the quarter deck, 
and gave them a signal to seize Fly; which they 
did, with very little trouble, and afterwards made 
themselves masters of the other three pirates and 
the snow, the rest of the prisoners, not knowing 
any thing of, or what the design might be, remain¬ 
ing altogether inactive, and brought the snow and 
pirates to Great Brewster, where a guard was put 
on board, June 28,1726. 

Soon after, the said pirates were brought to their 
trial, that is, on the 4th of July following, before 
the Honourable William Dummer, Esq. Lieutenant 
Governor and commander in chief of the province 
of Massachusetts Bay, President of the Special 
Court of Admiralty, at the court-house of Boston, 
assisted by 18 gentlemen of the council; before 
whom they were found guilty of murder and pira¬ 
cy condemned to be executed, and accordingly 
were executed the 12th of July. Fly was ordered 
to be hanged in chains at the entrance of the har¬ 
bour of Boston. Thus ended the short reign of an 
obdurate wretch, who only wanted skill and power 
to be as infamous as any who scoured the seas. 
The names of the three pirates, executed with 
him, were, Samuel Cole, George Condick, and 
Henry Greenvil. 



CAPTAIN HOWARD. 


143 


CAPTAIN THOMAS HOWARD. 


We have said, in another life, viz. White’s that 
lie was a lighterman on the river Thames. His fa¬ 
ther was of that business, and had the character of 
a very honest man. After his father’s decease, he 
grew very extravagant, and squandered away not 
only what he had left his son, but what he had al¬ 
lotted for his widow, whose indulgence, putting 
every thing into her son’s hands, was followed by 
being herself turned out of doors, for he sold the 
house over her head. After having ruined himself 
and mother, his friends fearing the wickedness of 
his inclination would bring scandal upon them, 
persuaded him to go to sea, and procured him a 
voyage to Jamaica, on board a merchant ship. At 
this island he ran away from his ship, and associat¬ 
ing himself with some desperate fellows, they stole 
a canoe, and went away to the Grand Camanas, to 
join some others of their own stamp, who lurked 
thereabouts, with design to go on the account, the 
term for pirating. They met those they looked 
for, made up a company of 20 men, surprised and 
made themselves masters of a turtling sloop, and 
set out in search of booty. 

The first prizes they made were only turtlers, 
which, however, increased the number of their 
crew, some being willing to join them, others being 
forced, with threats of being set on shore, on some 
desolate key. After some time cruising, they met 
with an Irish brigantine, which had provisions and 
servants on board. They made an exchange with 
the master, gave him provision to carry him to Ja- 


144 CAPTAIN HOWARD, 

maica, and allowed five hands to go with him. 
The rest (except the servants, who readily took on 
with the pirates) were all forced. Not long after, 
they surprised a sloop which had been trading on 
the Spanish coast. As she had 6 guns, and was a 
fit vessel for their turn, they changed her against 
the brigantine. Several hands belonging to this 
sloop entered volunteers, and several more were 
obliged to join them by compulsion. After this 
capture, they steered for the coast of Virginia, and 
in their way, met with a large New-England brig¬ 
antine, laden with provisions bound for Barbadoes. 
This they made prize of, and shifting their own 
guns on board her, sent the master away with the 
sloop, after forcing some of his men with them. 
They had now a vessel often guns, and a crew of 
80 men, of whom one James was captain, and How¬ 
ard quarter-master. 

While they lay on the coast of Virginia, they 
made prize of several ships from England, out of 
which they took men, liquors, provisions, clothes 
and whatever else they liked or thought necessary. 
As these ships had several felons on board, who 
were transports, they had out of them a number of 
volunteers, besides forced men ; so that they had 
a large complement. Among other Virginia ships 
which fell into their hands, they made prize, with 
little trouble, of a fine galley, mounted with 24 
guns, which afforded them a great many volunteers, 
as she had a number of transported malefactors 
and servants on board. They changed their brig¬ 
antine for this ship, and soon after, the man of war, 
which waited on this coast, heaving in sight, they 
thought proper to take their departure. 

From the coast of Virginia, they shaped their 
course for that of Guinea, where they took a great 
many ships of different nations,all which they rifled 
of what they thought fit. Out of these ships they 


CAPTAIN HOWARD. 145 

forced on board a number of men, equal to the 
number of those formerly compelled, who desired, 
and whom they permitted, to be discharged, after 
much entreaty. 

After they had been some months on the coast, 
they spied a large three decked Portuguese ship, 
from Brazil, mounted with 36 guns. They gave 
chase and came up with her. The captain would 
make no resistance; but his mate, who was an Eng¬ 
lishman, named Rutland, thinking it a shame to 
give up such a ship, resolved to defend her; which 
the Portuguese captain consented to,but went him¬ 
self out of harm’s way. Rutland, who'had been 
master of an English brigantine, taken from him on 
the same coast by another gang of pirates, fought 
them the better part of a forenoon; hut the Portu¬ 
guese flying the decks, and only 30 men, who were 
English, Dutch, and French, standing by him, he 
was obliged to ask quarters, which were given. 
When the pirates came on board, they asked Rut¬ 
land if he was commander? He answered, no. 
They inquired after him, and being told he was 
some where in the hold, they searched, and found 
him hid in the powder room ; whence they hauled 
him up, and whipped him round the deck for his 
cowardice. Rutland, and those who fought the 
ship, were forced on board, and their complement 
being now 180 men, they exchanged their galley 
for the Portuguese ship, carried her in shore, and 
ripping off her upper deck, made her deep waisted, 
by cutting down some of her gunnel. This prize 
they named the Alexander. 

They went down the coast in this ship, and made 
several prizes, some of which they discharged, and 
put on board such of their forced men as begged 
their discharge; others they sunk, and burnt others; 
but forced on board carpenters, caulkers, armour¬ 
ers, surgeons, and musicians. In their way to Cape 


146 CAPTAIN HOWARD. 

Lopez, where they designed, and afterwards did 
clean, they found a large Bristol ship at an anchor, 
which had lost a great many men by sickness, and 
had then but few healthy on board, who got into the 
boat, and endeavoured to get on shore, but were 
prevented by the pirates. Here they changed some 
more of their forced men, and did intend to change 
their ship;but on a survey, found the Bristol ship 
too old for their purpose, and therefore left her at 
an anchor, after they had taken what they thought 
of use to them. This ship belonged to one Mr. 
Godly, of Bristol. 

They met with nothing else in their way to Cape 
Lopez, where they cleaned their ship, took in wood 
and water, and then stood away to sea again. At 
their leaving Cape Lopez, they spied an English 
ship, which they came up with and engaged. The 
merchantman made an obstinate defence, and find¬ 
ing the design to board, made to close quarters. 
Howard, and seven or eight more, entered; but 
the pirate’s boatswain not having secured his lash¬ 
ing, they fell astern, and left these men on board 
the merchant ship, who seeing themselves in dan¬ 
ger, hauled up the boat, which the chase had 
astern, and cutting the rope, got on board the 
Alexander, which being considerably the larger 
ship, and drawing a great deal more water, struck 
on an unknown bank, which the merchantman 
went over, and by this lucky accident escaped. 

This obliged the pirates to start their water, and 
throw over the wood to get the ship off, which put 
them under a necessity of going back to Cape Lo¬ 
pez to take in those necessaries. Aftey having a 
second time wooded and watered, they put again 
to sea, fell in with and took two Portuguese brigan¬ 
tines, which they burnt, and setting the men on 
shore, they made for, and doubled the Cape of 
Good Hope, and shaped their course for Madagas- 



CAPTAIN HOWARD. 147 

car, where to the northward of, and near a small 
island, they run the ship on a reef, where she stuck 
fast. The captain being then sick in his bed, the 
men went ashore on the small adjacent island, and 
carried off a great deal of provisions and water to 
lighten the ship, on board of which none but the 
captain, the quarter-master, and about eleven more 
were left. 

The quarter-master, who was Howard, with the 
others, took all the treasure, put it on board the 
boats, and made off for the main of Madagascar. 
The captain, hearing nobody stir upon deck, made 
shift to crawl out of his cabin, and seeing them put 
ofl, fired the two fore chase guns at them, which 
alarmed (to no purpose) the men ashore. As the 
sea ebbed, the ship Jay dry, and they could walk to 
her from the island. She might have been saved 
had they the boats to carryout an anchor; but for 
want of them t hey brought every thing ashore, at 
tide of flood, upon rafts. As the ship lay in a quiet 
place, they had opportunity to rip her up, and 
build a vessel out of her wreck. The major part of 
the crew being English and Dutch who sided 
together, they forced about 36 Portuguese and 
French (thinking their crew two numerous for their 
provisions in the present circumstances) to get up¬ 
on a raft, and take their chance with the sea-breeze 
to get to the island of Madagascar, about three 
leagues from them. They finished a vessel of 60 
tons, but the day they designed to have launched 
her, a pirate brigantine hove in sight, who took 
them on board. 

Howard and his consorts stood along the W. side 
of the island, with design to round the N. end, and 
to go to St. Mary’s but finding the current too 
gtrong to stem, they lay there about a fortnight. 
In the interim they spied three sail of tall ships, 
which were men of war under Commodore Little- 


148 CAPTAIN HOWARD, 

ton, viz. the Anglesa, Hastings, and Lizard, who 
had carried a pardon to the island of St. Mary’s, 
accepted of by many of the pirates. Thinking these 
might be also pirates, they made a smoke, which 
brought the boats ashore; hut finding they were 
men of war’s boats, the pirates thought fit to ab¬ 
scond; wherefore, finding nothing nor any body, 
the said men of war’s boats returned, and the ships 
kept their cruise. 

They had here plenty of fish and wild hogs which 
they found in the woods. One day, when Howard 
was hunting, his comrades took the opportunity, 
went off, rounded the north end, and left Mr. How¬ 
ard to provide for himself. 

About four or five-and-twenty leagues from the 
Cape, they went into a fine harbour on the east side, 
not frequented, nay,hardly known to the European 
ships. They were here received handsomely, 
treated and provided with fresh meat, and what 
necessaries they wanted, by the kingofthis district, 
whose name was Mushmango, who had formerly 
been driven from Augustin by war, and travelling 
through the heart of the country, had here fixed 
his settlement. When the boats were victualled, 
and while Johnson, who took on him the command 
after they had deserted Howard, was ashore with 
three more, the rest went off with the boats and 
booty, and stood away to the southward, along the 
coast, designing for St. Mary’s, going every night 
into some harbour, or coming to an anchor under 
some point when the winds proved contrary. 

Johnson addressed himself to the king, and told 
him the boat and goods were his property; upon 
which he went along shore with a number of 
men,and found the boatatan anchor,and all asleep, 
except one to look out, at whom the king fired his 
blunderbuss, and killed him. The report of the 
piece awakened the others, who cut and stood off 


CAPTAIN HOWARD. 149 

the coast. The king returned, gave Johnson an 
account of his expedition, and furnished him a ca¬ 
noe, some calabashes of fresh water, provisions, 
and lances, that he might pursue after his people, 
Johnson kept the shore on board till he came to the 
island of St. Mary’s, where he heard his comrade 
fugitives were gone to, and settled atAmbonavoula, 
in a village belonging to the natives on the river of 
Manansallang. Leaving his canoe, he went into 
one belonging to an inhabitant, who carried him to 
his companions. 

After he h^id been here some few months, Four- 
gette, already mentioned in White’s life, came in 
with his ship from Martinico. With this vessel they 
sailed to the west side, and came to an anchor at an 
island called Anquawla, 30 leagues from the place 
where they left Howard. 

Some of the subjects of the king of Anquawla had 
before met with, and brought hither, Capt. Howard, 
who seeing the ship at anchor near shore, hailed 
her, and desired the boat might be sent to fetch him 
off, which was accordingly done, and he joined the 
rest of the crew. Here two boys ran away from 
them, whom they demanded of the king; but he 
notdeliveringthem, they wentashore by day-break, 
surprised his town, and brought off twelve of his 
concubines, whom they detained on board, till their 
boys, who were blacks, were returned, and then de¬ 
livered them back. From this ship he went on 
board the Speaker, where he continued till she was 
lost on Mauritius, when he came back to Madagas¬ 
car, and settled at Augustin. Here he tarried till 
the Prosperous, a ship of 36 guns, commanded by 
Capt. Hilliard, came in, which Howard and some 
other pirates (with the assistance of the boatswain 
and some of the crew belonging to the ship,) seized. 
In taking this ship, the captain and his chief mate 
were killed, and several others wounded. Howard 


150 CAPTAIN HOWARD, 

was by the company declared captain. Several of 
the ships crew took on with them, and they went 
round the south end to the east side, till they came 
the length of Maritan, where they found some of 
the Speaker’s company, whom they took on board, 
and made up their complement about 70 men. 

From hence they steered for the island of St. Ma¬ 
ry’s, where they heeled their ship, watered, wood¬ 
ed, and shipped some more hands. Here they had 
an invitation from one Ort Van Tyle, who lived on 
the main of Madagascar, to come to the ceremony 
of christening two of his children. They were kind¬ 
ly received and treated by him, but it having been 
reported that this Ort Van Tyle had murdered some 
pirates, they in revenge, though they had no cer¬ 
tainty of the fact, took him prisoner, plundered his 
house, and what goods they could not take o din a 
great canoe belonging to him, they threw into the 
river or burnt. Ort Van Tyle they designed to carry 
on board, and hang at the yard-arm; but one of the 
pirates helped him to escape, and he took into the 
woods, where meeting some of his blacks, he way¬ 
laid his canoe and Howard’s pinnace by the river 
side. Besides what goods they had on board of this 
Dutchman’s they had several women and children 
belonging to him and some white men, who-had left 
them under his care. The pirates set the women 
to the paddles, and the canoe was overset on the 
bar; Ort Van Tyle fired on the men, and shot one 
through the arm and through the thigh, whom with 
his comrade, he took prisoner, and kept with him. 
The rest of the men got ashore on the south side 
of the river and escaped him; the women on the 
north side, and returned home. When the pinnace 
came down, he fired and shot the captain through 
the arm, but he got on board, where his arm was 
set. After this, the Prosperous sailed for Melhe- 
lage, where they victualled, with a design to go to 



CAPTAIN HOWARD. 151 

the East-Indies. While they lay here, came in a 
large Dutch ship, well manned, and of 40 guns. 
The Prosperous was not strong enough to attack 
her, and the Dutch, fearing he should spoil his 
trade, would not meddle with Howard, though 
hard words passed, and the Dutchman threatened 
to fall foul on him if he did not leave the place, 
which Howard thought fit to do, and sailed to Ma- 
yotta. 

A few days after the departure of the Prospe¬ 
rous, Capt. Bowen, in the Scotch ship, came in, an¬ 
chored within small arm shot, and right a head of 
the Dutchman, whom he saluted with 11 guns, shot 
and all, which the other returned with 15, after the 
same manner; drums beating and trumpets sound¬ 
ing on both sides. The Dutchman, however, was 
surprised, and under apprehensions. He hailed 
the pirate, and answer was returned, From the seas. 
He then bid them send their boat on board, which 
accordingly went with the quarter-master, who told 
the captain, that they had no design on him, hut 
were ^Ginc; against the Moors, and came in for 
provision. H e replied, they could get none there, 
and the best way was to be gone ; however, the 
quarter-master went ashore, (where the Dutch had 
made his factory, and had some goods) and shot 
down three oxen, which he ordered the natives to 
help to cut in pieces. The Dutchman, perceiving 
a friendship between the natives and pirates, seeing 
Bowen full of men, and hearing two more pirates 
were expected, thought fit to go off in the night, 
and leave the goods he had put on shore. 

A few days after, Bowen, seizing the goods left, 
went for Mayotta, where he joined the Prosperous, 
and lay for the season to go to the East-Indies. 
After some stay here, their salt provision perishing, 
they returned to Madagascar to revictual, Bowen to 
St. Augustin, and Howard (on board of whose ship 


152 CAPTAIN HOWARD, 

was Capt.Whaley, taken as related in Bowen’s life) 
to Methelage, agreeing to meet at the island of St. 
Johns, to lie for the Moors fleet; where after some 
disappointments, they met, and got sight of the 
Moors fleet, one of which fell a prize to Bowen; but 
the Prosperous being a heavy sailer, did not come 
up with them till they were at an anchor at the bar 
of Surat, where they waited to lighten. The Moors 
seeing few hands on board, for Howard concealed 
his men, and not imagining a pirate would ven¬ 
ture up, concluded him an English Bast Indiaman. 
Howard clapped the largest on board, which stood 
him a smart engagement, and killed him about 30 
men. At length the pirates forced Capt. Whaley 
who spoke the Moors language to go on board and 
offer quarter, which they excepted. There was on 
board this prize a nobleman belonging to the Great 
Mogul, who had been at Jaffa to buy horses for his 
.master. The prize yielded them a great booty, 
though they found but part of the money which was 
on board. They intended to carry her to Madagas¬ 
car, but her bowsprit being wounded in the board¬ 
ing, she lost all her masts; wherefore they sent her 
adrift, and she ran ashore at Deman, belonging to 
the Portuguese. 

From hence he steered to the Malabar coast, 
where he met Bowenand his prize, which mounted 
56 guns. Both crews went on board Bowen, sunk 
the Prosperous, and burnt the Scotch ship, called 
the Speedy Return. Hence they stood along the 
coast of India; and Howard, with about 20 more, 
landed with what they had, and retired among the 
natives, where Howard married a women of the 
country, and being a morose, ill-natured fellow and 
using her ill, he was murdered by her relations. 


CAPTAIN LEWIS. 


153 


CAPTAIN LEWIS. 


This worthy gentleman was an early pirate. 
We first find him a boy on board the pirate Banister, 
who was hanged at the yard arm of a man of war 
in sight of Port Royal, Jamaica. This Lewis and 
another hoy were taken with him, and brought into 
the island hanginghy the middle at the mizen peak. 
He had a great aptitude for languages, and spoke 
perfectly well that of theMosquil Indians, French, 
Spanish, and English. I mention our own, be¬ 
cause it is doubted whether he was French or Eng¬ 
lish, for we cannot trace him hack to his origin, 
He sailed out of Jamaica till he was a lusty lad, 
and was then taken by the Spaniards at the Havana, 
where he tarried some time; hut at length he and 
six more ran away with a small canoe, and surpris¬ 
ed a Spanish periagua, out of which two men join¬ 
ed them, so that they were now nine in company. 
With this periagua they surprised a turtling sloop, 
and forced some of the hands to take on with them; 
the others they sent away in the periagua. 

He played at this small game, surprising and 
taking coasters and turtlers, till with forced men 
and volunteers he made up a company of 40 men 
With these he took a large pink built ship, hound 
from Jamaica to the hay of Campeachy, and after 
her, several others hound to the same place; and 
having intelligence that there lay in the bay a fine 
Bermuda built brigantine of 10 guns, commanded 
by Cupt. Tucker, he sent the captain of the pink 
to him with a letter, the purport of which was, that 
he wanted such a brigantine, and if he w ould part 


154 CAPTAIN LEWIS, 

with her, he would pay him 10,000 pieces of eight; 
if he refused this, he would take care to lie in his 
way, for he was resolved, either by fair or foul 
means to have the vessel. Capt. Tucker, having 
read the letter, sent for the masters of vessels then 
lying in the bay, and told them, after he had shown 
the letter, that if they would make him up 54 men, 
(for there were about 10 Bermuda sloops) he would 
go out and fight the pirates. They said no, they 
would not hazard their men, they depended on 
their sailing, and every one must take care of him¬ 
self as well as he could. 

However, they all put to sea together, and spied 
a sail under the land, which had a breeze while 
they lay becalmed. Some said he was a turtler; 
others, the pirate, and so it proved ; for it was ho¬ 
nest Capt. Lewis, who putting out his oars, got in 
among them. Some of the sloops had four guns, 
some two, some none. Joseph Dill had two, which 
he brought on one side, and fired smartly at the pi¬ 
rate, but unfortunately one of them split, and killed 
three men. Tucker called to all the sloops to send 
him men, and he would fight Lewis, but to no pur¬ 
pose ; nobody came on board him. In the mean 
while a breeze sprung up, and Tucker, trimming 
his sails, left them, who all fell a prey to the pirate; 
into whom, however, he fired a broadside at going 
off. One sloop, whose master I will not name, was 
a very good sailer, and was going off; but Lewis 
firing a shot, brought her to, and^he lay bv till all 
the sloops were visited and secured. Then Lewis 
sent on board him, and ordered the master into his 
sloop. As soon as he was on board, he asked the 
reason of his lying by, and betraying the trust his 
owners had reposed in him, which was doing like 
a knave and co#ard, and he would punish him ac¬ 
cordingly ; for , said he, you might have got off , being 
so much a better sailer than my vessel . After this 



CAPTAIN LEWIS. 155 

speech, he fell upon him with a rope’s end, and then 
snatching up his cane, drove him about the decks 
without mercy. The master, thinking to pacify 
him, told him he had been out trading in that sloop 
several months, and had onboard a good quantity 
of money, which was hid, and which, if he would 
send on board a black belonging to the owners, he 
would discover to him. This had not the desired 
effect, but one quite contrary; for Lewis told him 
he was a rascal and villain for this discovery, and 
he would pay him for betraying his owners, and 
redoubled his strokes. However, he sent and took 
the money and negro, who was an able sailor. He 
took out of his prizes what he had occasion for, 
40 able negro sailors, an'd a white carpenter. The 
largest sloop, which was about 90 tons, he took for 
his own use, and mounted her with 12 guns. His 
crew was now about 80 men, whites and blacks. 

After these captures, he cruised in the Gulf of 
Florida,laying in wait for theWest-India homeward 
bound ships that took the leeward passage, several 
of which, falling into his hands, were plundered 
by him, and released. From hence he went to the 
coast of Carolina, where he cleaned his sloop, and 
a great many men whom he had forced, ran away 
from him. However, the natives traded with him 
for rum and sugar, and brought him all he wanted, 
without the government’s having any knowledge 
of him, for he had got into a very private creek ; 
though he was very much on his guard, that he 
might not be surprised from the shore. 

From Carolina he cruised on the coast of Vir¬ 
ginia, where he took and plundered several mer¬ 
chantmen, and forced several men, and then re¬ 
turned to the coast of Carolina, where he did abun¬ 
dance of mischief. As he had now an abundance 
of French on board, who had entered with him, and 
Lewis, hearing the English had a design to maroon 


156 CAPTAIN LEWIS, 

them, he secured the men he suspected, and put 
them in a boat, with all the other English, ten 
leagues from shore, with only ten pieces of beef, 
and sent them away, keeping none hut French 
and negroes. These men, it is supposed all perish¬ 
ed in the sea. 

From the coast of Carolina he shaped his course 
for the banks of Newfoundland, where he over¬ 
hauled several fishing vessels, and then went into 
Trinity Harbour in Conception Bay, where there 
lay several merchantmen, and seized a 24 gun gal¬ 
ley, called the Herman. The commander, Capt. 
Beal, told Lewis, if he would send his quarter-mas¬ 
ter ashore he would furnish him with necessaries. 
He being sent ashore, a council was held among 
the masters, the consequence of which was, the 
seizing the quarter-master, whom they carried to 
Capt. Woodes Rogers. He chained him to a sheet 
anchor which was ashore, and planted guns at the 
point, to prevent the pirate getting out, but to lit¬ 
tle purpose; for the people atone of these points 
firing too soon, Lewis quitted the ship, and, by the 
help of oars and the favour of the night, got out 
in his sloop, though she received many shot in her 
hull. The last shot that was fired at the pirate 
did him considerable damage. 

He lay off and on the harbour, swearing he would 
have his quarter-master, and intercepted two fish¬ 
ing shallops, on board of one of which was the cap¬ 
tain of the galley’s brother. He detained them, 
and sent word, if his quarter-master did not imme¬ 
diately come off, he would put all his prisoners to 
death. He was sent on board without hesitation. 
Lewis and the crew inquired how he had been used, 
and he answered, very civilly. “It’s well,” said the 
pirate, “ for had you been ill treated, I wmuld have 
put .all these rascals to the sword.” They were 
dismissed, and the captain’s brother going over the 







The Pirates flogging the Captain of a sloop . Page 155. 














































































































































































































































































































































































































































CAPTAIN LEWIS. 157 

side, the quarter-master stopped him, saying, he 
must drink the gentlemen’s health ashore, parti¬ 
cularly Capt. Rogers’, and, whispering him in the 
ear, told him, if the crew had known of his being 
chained all night, he would have been cut in pieces, 
with all his men. After this poor man and his 
shallop’s company were gone, the quftrter-master 
told the usage he had met with, which enraged 
Lewis, and made him reproach his quarter-master, 
whose answer was, that he did not think it just 
the innocent should suffer for the guilty. 

The masters of the merchantmen sent to Capt. 
Tudor Trevor, who lay at St. John’s in the Sheer¬ 
ness man of war. He immediately got under sail, 
and missed the pirate but four hours. She kept 
along the coast and made several prizes, French 
and English, and put into a harbour where a French 
ship lay making fish. She was built at the latter 
end of the war, for a privateer, was an excellent 
sailer, and mounted 24 guns. The commander 
hailed him: the pirate answered , from Jamaica with 
rum ami sugar . The Frenchman bid him go about 
his business; that a pirate sloop was on the coast, 
and he might be the rogue : if he did not immedi¬ 
ately sheer off, he would fire a broadside into him. 
He went off and lay a fortnight out at sea, so far as 
not to be descriedYrom shore, with resolution to 
have the ship. The Frenchman being on his guard, 
in the mean while raised a battery on the shore, 
which commanded the harbour. After a fortnight, 
when he was thought to be gone off, he returned, 
and took two of the fishing shallops belonging to 
the Frenchman, and manning them with pirates, 
they w ent in. One shallop attacked the battery; 
the other suprised, boarded, and carried the ship, 
just as the morning star appeared, for which rea¬ 
son he gave her that name. In the engagement the 
ow ner’s son was killed, wdio made the voyage out 
14 


158 CAPTAIN LEWIS, 

of curiosity only. The ship being taken, seven 
guns were fired, which was the signal, and the sloop 
came down and lay along side the ship. The cap¬ 
tain told him he supposed he only wanted his liq- 
our; but Lewis made answer, he wanted his ship, 
and accordingly hoisted all his ammunition and 
provision into her. When the Frenchman saw they 
would have his ship, he told her trim, and Lewis 
gave him the sloop; and excepting what he took 
for provision, ^ill the fish he had made. Several of 
the French took on with him, who, with others, 
English and French, had by force or voluntarily, 
made him up 200 men. 

From Newfoundland he steered for the coast of 
Guinea, where he took a great many ships, English, 
Dutch, and Portuguese. Among these ships was 
one belonging to Carolina, commanded by Capt. 
Smith. While he was in chase of this vessel an 
accident happened, which made his men believe he 
dealt with the devil; for he carried away his fore 
and main-top-mast; he, Lewis, running up the 
shrouds to the main-top, tore off a handful of hair, 
and throwing it into the air, used this expression, 
good devil , take this till I come. And it was observ¬ 
ed, that he came afterwards faster up with the 
chase than before the loss of his top-masts. 

Smith being taken, Lewis used him very civilly, 
and gave him as much, or more in value than he 
took from him, and let him go, saying, he would 
come to Carolina when he had made money on 
the coast, and would rely on his friendship. 

They kept some time on the coast, when they 
quarrelled among themselves, the French and Eng¬ 
lish, of which the former was more numerous, and 
they resolved to part. The French therefore chose 
a large sloop newly taken, thinking the ship’s bot¬ 
tom, which was not sheathed, damaged by the 
worms. According to this agreement they took on 





captain lewis. 159 

board what ammunition and provision they thought 
fit oq,.t of the ship, and put off, choosing one Le 
Barre captain. As it blew hard, and the decks 
were encumbered, they came to an anchor under the 
coast, to stow away their ammunition, goods, &c. 
Lewis told his men they were a parcel of rogues, 
and he would make them refund ; accordingly run 
along side, his guns being all loaded and new prim¬ 
ed, and ordered him to cut away his mast, or he 
would sink him. Le Barre was obliged to obey. 
Then he ordered them all ashore. They begged 
the liberty of carrying their arms, goods, &c. with 
them, but he allowed them only their small arms 
and cartridge-boxes. Then he brought the sloop 
along side, put every thing on board the ship, and 
sunk the sloop. 

Le Barre and the rest begged to be taken on 
board. However, though he denied them, he suf¬ 
fered Le Barre and some few to come, with whom 
he and his men drank plentifully. The negroes 
A|on board Lewis told him the French had a plot 
against him. He answered, he could not withstand 
his destiny; for the devil told him in the great cab¬ 
in, he should be murdered that night. 

In the dead of the night, the rest of the French 
came on board in canoes, got into the cabin and 
killed Lewis. They fell on the crew; but, after an 
hour and a half's dispute, the French were beat off, 
and the quarter-master, John Cornelius an Irish¬ 
man, succeeded Lewis. 


160 


CAPTAIN CORNELIUS. 


CAPTAIN JOHN CORNELIUS. 


Having now the command of the Morning Star, 
Cornelius kept on the coast, and made several 
prizes, both English and Portuguese. The former 
he always discharged, after he had taken what he 
thought fit, but the latter he commonly burnt. 

While he was thus ravagingthe coast, two Eng¬ 
lish ships, which had slaved at Whidaw, one of 56 
guns, and the other 12, which fought close, were 
ready to sail; and having notice of a pirate, who 
had done great mischief, resolved to keep com¬ 
pany together for their defence. The captain of 
the small ship lay sick in his cabin, and she was left 
to the care of the mates. When they had got under 
sail, 200 negroes jumped overboard from the larger 
ship, which obliged her to bring to and get out her 
boats. The mate of the other went into the cabin, 
told the accident, and advised lying by, and sending 
their boats to assist their consort; but the captain 
being ill, and willing to get off the coast, bid him 
keep on his way, for it would be dangerous; hav¬ 
ing 400 slaves on board ; and being but weakly 
manned, when the boats were gone they might 
rise upon him. The mate urged the danger of the 
pirates, should they leave their consort. The cap¬ 
tain answered, the seas were wide, and he would 
not bring to; accordingly they kept on their way 
with a fresh gale. 

Two days after, the mate, about 8 in the morn¬ 
ing, ordered a man to the mast-head, who spied a 
sail, which made them prepare for an engagement. 
There was on board one Robert Williams, who had 





CAPTAIN CORNELIUS. 161 

*ed the African company three years on the 
ixv;itiea coast, who spoke the negro tongue very 
well. He told the slaves he had picked out, to the 
number of 50, that the ship in sight he believed 
would fight them, and if they got the better, would 
certainly, as they were cannibals, kill and eat them 
all; and therefore it behoved them to fight for their 
lives. They had lances and small arms given them. 

About 10, Cornelius came up with them, and be¬ 
ing hailed, answered he was a man of war, in search 
of pirates, and bid them send their boat on board; 
but they refusig to trust him, though he had Eng¬ 
lish colours and pendant flying, the pirate fired a 
broadside, and they began a running fight of about 
10 hours, in which time the negroes discharged 
their arms so smartly, that Cornelius never durst 
attempt to board. About 8 at night the ship blew 
up abaft. They immediately cut the lashings of 
the long-boat, but the ship going down, they had 
not time to get her out, and barely enough to launch 
the yawl, which lay on the forecastle. The ship 
went down on one side, and Robert Williams run¬ 
ning on the other, was hooked by the mizen-truss, 
and was carried down with her; but having his 
knife in his hand, and a great presence of mind, he 
cut the waistband of his trowsers, where he was 
caught, got clear, and swam after the boat, into 
which about 1G had gotten, and either knocked 
those on the head, or cut off their hands, who laid 
hold on it; however, with much entreaty, he was 
permitted to lay one hand on to ease him. They 
made to the pirate, who refused to receive them, 
without they would enter with him: which, to save 
their lives, they all agreed to, and were then civilly 
received, and dry clothes given them. These and 
one negro were all the souls saved. 

In a little time after this he took two Portuguese 
| ships, which he plundered and kept with him; and 

14* 


162 CAPTAIN CORNELIUS, 

one foggy morning,hearing the firing of guns,which 
by the distance of time, he judged to be minute 
guns, as they really w.ere, for the death of an Eng¬ 
lish commander, he called his men on board from 
the prizes, sent them about their business, and di¬ 
rected his course by the report of the cannon he had 
heard. In about two hours he spied the ship that 
had fired, came up with her very soon, and took her 
without resistance. The officers of the ship which 
blew up, finding this prize English, and that the pi¬ 
rate did not intend to detain her begged to be dis¬ 
charged, as they had all large families, which must 
perish without their support. Cornelius, taking 
them into considerations, discharged Mr. Powis of 
Limehouse, who has since been a commander, and 
raised a fortune. The then chief mate, Mr. George 
Forelong, the boatswain, carpenter, and other 
married men, he set on board the prize, and was 
very generous to them out of the plunder of the 
Portuguese ships, because they had made a bro¬ 
ken voyage; but Robert Williams and the other 
bachelors he detained, and forced some out of the 
prize, which he let go. 

After this he took three Portuguese ships at an 
anchor, which he plundered and burnt, after he had 
hove down by one of them. He continued some 
time longer on the coast, did a great deal of mis¬ 
chief to the trade, and forced a great many men: 
these he put to do all the slavery of the ship, and 
they were beat about the decks, without daring to 
resent it. I shall take notice of an instance of this 
kind, to show how far revenge will carry a man. 
One Robert, Bland was at the helm, and called Ro¬ 
bert Williams to take whipstaff, till he went to play. 
Williams refused it; upon which Bland drubbed him 
with the lanyard of the whipstaff very severely. 
Williams, that he mightrarengehimself, andhave 
liberty to fight Bland, went that instant and entered 


captain .Cornelius. 163 

himself a volunteer in the ship’s books, and asked 
leave to fight Bland, which was allowed him, but 
with no other weapons than his fists. He, however, 
challenged his antagonist, who was *00 hard for 
him; so he turned pirate to be heartily thrashed. 

Cornelius, thinkingthey had been long enough on 
the Guinea coast, doubled the Cape, off which he 
spied the Lizard, and two more men of war, under 
the command of Commodore Littleton. Cornelius 
was for giving chase, but finding his men unwilling 
there being, as they gave for reason, 70 forced 
men on board, and these ships being, as they sus¬ 
pected, men of war, he made the best of his way 
for Madagascar, went up the river Methelage, or 
the west side, and anchored against Pombotoque, 
a small village of blacks. 

The quarter-master went ashore, and the black 
governor examined him, ft. i several of these blacks 
speak English. He told the governor they were 
come for provision and to trade; upon which he 
sent a couple of oxen on board, and then ordered 
some of the inhabitants to go up with the quarter¬ 
master to the king. The boat’s crew seeing a'num- 
ber of blacks come down to the strand without the 
quarter-master, apprehended some mischief had 
befallen him; but were eased of their fears, when 
they saw two oxen given them, and were told the 
white man, who was gone to the king,would be back 
next day, itnotbeing above 20 miles from the shore. 

When the quarter-master, who carried up a blun¬ 
derbuss, ahne gun, and a pair of pistols, fora pre¬ 
sent to the king, told him they wanted provisions, he 
asked where they were bound? To which he an¬ 
swered, to seek their fortunes, for at present they 
were very poor. Look ye, replied the king, 1 re¬ 
quire nothing of you; all white men I loo/c upon as 
my children; they helped me to conquer this coun¬ 
try, and all the cattle in it are at their service . 1 


164 CAPTAIN CORNELIUS. 

will send down provisions enough , and when that is 
spent , you shall have more. He accordingly sent 1000 
head of cattle, out of which he bid them choose 
what they would, and they salted 100 fat oxen. 

Besides the present of oxen, the ki«g sent 100 
blacks laden with rice. Cornelius sent him a pre¬ 
sent of two barrels ofpowder, and would have given 
him more, with small arms in return, hut he sent 
them word he would have no more, nor any of their 
arms, not being in want of either. On the contrary, 
if they wanted, he would send them ten barrels of 
powder, as they were his children ; bade them pro¬ 
ceed on their voyage, and if they were richer when 
they came back, and would send him any present, 
he would accept it, but not now, they were so poor. 

Here Cornelius lost 70 men by their excesses. 
Having been long without fresh pro visions,the eat¬ 
ing immoderately, and drinking tohe (a liquor made 
of honey) to excess, threw them into violent fevers, 
which carried them off. 

The blacks having given Cornelius an account 
of the Speaker’s having sailed from Methelage 
about three months before for the East-Indies, he, 
having taken in his provisions, steered the same 
course, in hopes to join in consort with her; but 
the Speaker lying off the Red Sea, and the Morning 
Star going into the Gulf of Persia, they never met. 
They run up a pretty way in the gulf, and lay under 
Antelope Island, where they kept a look out, and 
whence they made their excursions, and took a 
number of prizes. 

Here they designed to heave down and clean, and 
they had got a good part of their goods and water 
casks aahore, when the look-out discovered two 
lofty ships, one of them wearing a flag at the fore¬ 
top-masthead. This put them into great confusion: 
they got what casks and necessaries they could on 
board, and lay till the ships came abreast of them 



CAPTAIN CORNELIUS. 165 

Then they got under sail at once, their sails being 
furled with rope yarns, and came close alongside 
the larger ship, which was a Portuguese of 70 guns, 
as the other was of 26. They exchanged a broad¬ 
side with her, and the smaller ship engaged so 
close, that they threw hand grenades into each 
other; but Cornelius’ business was to run, and the 
great ship put in stays twice to follow him, but 
missing, was obliged to ware, which gave the pirate 
a great advantage. The small ship, in staying, 
tailed aground: she, however, gave chase till she 
had run a good way ahead of her consort, which 
the pirate seeing, brought to, and stayed for her, as 
did the Portuguese for her consort, not caring to 
engage him singly. When it was quite dark, Cor¬ 
nelius ran up the other shore, passed the Portu¬ 
guese ships (which kept down the gulf) and came 
again to anchor at his old station, where he found 
his enemies hadbeen ashore in their boats and stav¬ 
ed his casks. He here cleaned, and finding no 
money to be got out of any prizes made, and bale 
goods being of little value to them, they from hence 
went away to the island of Johanna, where it was 
designed to maroon the blacks, who were the great¬ 
er number and all bred among the English. Robert 
Williams, fearing they would next maroon the 
English, who were not above a third of the whites, 
gave the negroes notice of the design, who secured 
all the arms of the ship, and gave Williams the 
command till they should get to Madagascar, keep¬ 
ing a good guard on the French and Dutch. When 
they came to Methelage they gave the ship to the 
king, her bottom being eaten so much with the 
worms that she was no longer fit for service; and 
they all went and lived with the king. About five 
months after they broke up, Cornelius died, and 
was buried with the usual ceremony. 


166 


captain williams. 


CAPTAIN DAVID WILLIAMS. 


This man was born in Wales, of very poor pa¬ 
rents, who bred him up to the plough and the fol¬ 
lowing of sheep, the only things he had any notion 
of till he went to sea. He was never esteemed 
among the pirates as a man of good natural parts, 
perhaps on account of his ignorance of letters ; for 
as he had no education, he knew as little of the 
sailing a ship, set aside the business of a foremast 
man, as he did of history, in which, and natural phi¬ 
losophy, he was equally versed. He was of a mo¬ 
rose, sour, unsociable temper, very choleric, and 
easily resented as an affront, what as brave and a 
more knowing man would not think worth notice; 
but he was not cruel, neither did he turn pirate 
from a wicked or avaricious inclination, but by 
necessity; and we may say, though he was no forced 
man, he could not well avoid the life he fell into. 

When he was grown a lusty lad he would see the 
world, and go seek his fortune, as the term is among 
the country youths, who think fit to withdraw them¬ 
selves from the subjection of their parents. With 
this whim in his head, he got to Chester, where he 
was received, and sailed on board a coaster, till 
he had made himself acquainted with the rigging, 
learned to knot, splice, and do the other parts of a 
common sailor’s duty; then coming to London, he 
shipped himself on board the Mary Indiaman, bound 
for Bengal and Madras, which voyage he performed 
outward, and it was not his fault that he did not 
come home in the same ship; for, in her return, 
falling short of water, they steered for the island of 



CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 167 

Madagascar, and fell in with the east side, in lat. 
20 deg. or thereabouts. The captain manned and 
sent ashore the long-boat to seek for water, but a 
large surf running, she came to an anchor, at some 
little distance from shore, and DavidWilliams, with 
another, being good swimmers, stripped and swam 
off in search of water. While they were ashore, 
the wind, which blew full upon the island, and 
freshening, caused the surf to run too high for them 
to get off; and the long-boat, after waiting some 
time, seeing no possibility of getting these men on 
board, weighed and stood for the ship, which filled 
her sails and stood for St. Augustin’s Bay, where 
she watered, and proceeded on her voyage. 

Thus our poor Welchman and his companion 
w T ere left destitute on an island altogether unknown 
to them, without clothes or subsistence but what 
the fruits of the trees offered. They rambled some 
little time along the coast, and were met by the 
natives, and by them carried up into the country, 
where they were humanely treated, and provided 
with all the necessaries of life, though this was not 
sufficient to expel his consort’s melancholy, who 
took his being left behind so much to heart, that he 
sickened and died in a very little time. 

Some time after, the prince of the country, who 
entertained Williams, had a quarrel with a neigh¬ 
bouring king, which broke into a war. Williams 
took the field with his patron, but the enemy being 
superior in number, got the victory, and took a 
great many prisoners, among whom was the un¬ 
fortunate Welchman. The king whose prisoner lie 
was, treated him very kindly; and being master of 
an old musket, gave it him, saying such arms were 
better in the hands of a white man than those of any 
of his subjects, who were not so much used to them ; that 
he should be his friend and companion, and should fare 
as \oell as himself, if he would assist him in his wars . 


168 CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 

It will not be amiss here to take notice, that this ‘ 
island, on the east side is divided into a great num¬ 
ber of principalities or kingdoms, which are almost 
in continual war one with another; the grounds of 
which are very trivial, for they will pick a quarrel 
with a neighbour, especially if he has a number of 
cattle, (in which, and slaves, consist their riches) 
on the slightest occasion, that they may have an 
opportunity of plunder; and when a battle or two 
is lost, the conquered makes his peace, by deliver¬ 
ing up such a certain number of bullocks and slaves 
as shall be demanded by the victorious prince. On 
the w T est side the island, the principalities are most¬ 
ly reduced under one prince, who resides nearMe- 
thelage, and who is, as we have said in the lives of 
other pirates, a great friend to white men; for his 
father, who founded his empire by the assistance of 
the Europeans, left it in charge with his son, to as¬ 
sist them with what necessaries they should re¬ 
quire, and do them all friendly offices; but if he dis¬ 
obeyed this command, and should ever fall out with 
the white men, or spill any of their blood, he threat¬ 
ened to come again, turn him out of his kingdom, 
and give it to his younger brother. These mena¬ 
ces had a very great effect on him, for he firmly 
believed his father would, on his disobedience, 
put them in execution; for there is not on earth, a 
race of men equally superstitious. 

But to return toWilliams, he lived with this prince 
in great tranquility, and was very much esteemed 
by him, (for necessity taught him complaisance.) 
After some time, his new patron was informed that 
his vanquished enemy had formed a grand alliance, 
in order to make war upon him ; wherefore, he re¬ 
solved to begin, and march into the countries of 
the allies, and ravage the nearest before they could 
join forces. He raised an army, and accordingly 
marched southward. At the news of his approach, 



CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


169 

the inhabitants abandoned ah the small towns, and 
sending messengers to their friends, raised a con¬ 
siderable body to oppose him, suffering him to over¬ 
run a great deal of ground without molestation. At 
length being reinforced, they took their opportu¬ 
nity, and setting upon him when his men were fa¬ 
tigued, and his army encumbered with booty, they 
gained a signal victory. The king had the good 
luck to get off, but Williams was a second time taken 
prisoner. 

He was carried before the conqueror, who, 
(having been an eye witness of his bravery, for 
Williams killed a number of his enemies with his 
shot, and behaved very well, defending himself 
with the butt end of his musket for some time, 
when he was surrounded) reached him his hand, 
and told him, he made war with his enemies only, 
that he did not esteem the white men such, but 
should be glad of their friendship. Here Williams 
was used with more respect than he had oeen even 
by his last patron, and lived with this prince some 
years ; but a war breaking out, he was routed in a 
set battle, in which Williams was his companion. 
In the pursuit, the poor Welchman, finding he could 
not get off, clapped his ihusket at the foot of a tree, 
and climbing up, he capitulated. He was now ter¬ 
ribly afraid of being cut to pieces, for he had shot 
and wounded a great number of the enemy. They, 
however, promised him good quarter, and kept their 
word. 

Tl^e king of Maratan, who took him, used him as 
well as any of the former had done, and carried him 
always with him to the wars, in which fortune was 
more propitious, for the parties Williams commanded 
had constantly the better of their enemies, and 
never returned without great booties of cattle and 
slaves, for all the prisoners they take are so, until 
redeemed ; though these prisoners ar^, for the most 
15 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS 


170 

part, women and children, they seldom giving quar¬ 
ter to any other. The fame of his bravery and suc¬ 
cess, spread itself round the country; and his name 
alone was so terrible, that the giving out he was at 
the head of any party, was giving the enemy an 
overthrow without a battle. 

This reaching the ears of Dempaino, a mighty 
prince who lived 200 miles from him, and who had 
several petty princes tributaries, he sent an ambas¬ 
sador to demand the white man; but his patron, 
who had no mind to part with him, denied that he 
had any white man with him; that he who was 
called so was a native of the country. For the read¬ 
er’s better understanding this passage, I must in¬ 
form him, that there is a race of what they call white 
men, who have been settled on Madagascar, time 
out of mind, and are descended from the Arabs; 
but mixing with the negroes, have propagated a 
race of mulattoes, who differ in nothing from the 
manner of living of the black natives. 

To proceed, the ambassador desired to see this 
man, and Williams coming to him, being extremely 
tanned, he had passed for what he was reported, 
had he been before apprized of what had been said, 
to have answered accordingly, for he spoke the lan¬ 
guage perfectly ; or had the ambassador not ex¬ 
amined him ; who, after he had some time viewed 
him, asked him of what country he was, and whe¬ 
ther it was true that he was one of Madagascar ? 
Williams answered, he was an Englishman, and was 
left in the country, relating the particulars, as I have 
already set them down, adding, he had been five 
years in the island. 

The ambassador then told the king, that he must 
send the white man with him, for such were the or¬ 
ders of his master, the great Dempaino, who was 
lord over most of the kings on the side of the coun¬ 
try where he resided ; and that it would be danger- 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


171 


*. ts for him to disobey the commands of so great a 
n onarch. 

The king answered, those who were subject to 
Dempaino ought to obey his commands; but for 
him, he knew no man greater than himself, there¬ 
fore should receive laws from none ; and with this 
answer dismissed the ambassador; who, at his re¬ 
turn, reported to his master the very words, adding, 
they were delivered in a very haughty strain. Dem¬ 
paino, who was not used to have his commands dis¬ 
puted, ordered one of his generals to march with 
6000 men, and demand the white man, and in case 
of refusal, to denounce war; that he should send 
him back an express of it, and he would follow in 
person with an army to enforce a compliance. 

These orders were put in execution with the 
greatest despatch and secrecy; so that the town was 
invested, before any advice was given of the ap¬ 
proach of an enemy. The general told the king, it 
was in his choice to have peace or war with his 
master, since it depended on the delivery of the 
white man. The king, thus surprised, was obliged, 
however contrary to his inclinations, to give Wil¬ 
liams up to the general, who returned with him to 
Dempaino, without committing any hostilities; 
though he threatened to besiege the town, and put 
all but the women and children to the sword, if the 
king of Maratan did not pay the expense of sending 
for the white man, which he rated at 100 slaves, and 
500 head of cattle. The king objected to this as a 
hard condition, and an unjust imposition, but was 
obliged to acquiesce in it. 

He was received by Dempaino with a great many 
caresses, was handsomely clothed according to the 
country manner, had slaves allotted to wait on him, 
and every thing that was necessary and convenient; 
so that king Dempaino was at the trouble of send¬ 
ing 6000 men, one would think, for no other end 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


172 

than to show the great value and esteem he had 
for the Europeans. He continued with this prince 
till the arrival of a ship, which was some years after 
his leaving Maratan, when the Bedford galley, a 
pirate, commanded by Achen Jones, a Welchman, 
came on the coast, on board of which ship Williams 
was permitted to enter. They went to Augustin, 
where, laying the ship on shore, they broke her 
back by carelessness, and lost her. The crew lived 
here till the arrival of the Pelican, another pirate, 
mentioned in North’s life ; some of them went on 
board this ship, and steered for the East-Indies. 
Williams shifted out of this on board the Mocha fri¬ 
gate, a pirate, commanded by Capt. Culliford, and 
made a voyage ; then, returning to St. Mary’s they 
shared the booty they had got in the Red Sea. 

Some of the "crew, being West-Indians, having 
an opportunity, returned home ; but Williams re¬ 
mained here ti«ll the arrival and taking of Captain 
Fourgette, which has been already mentioned. He 
was one of those who took the Speaker, went a 
voyage in her, and returned to Maratan. Here the 
king seeing him, asked him, what present he in¬ 
tended to make him for former kindness 1 Williams 
answered, he had been overpaid by the prince whom 
he took him from, and by his services; which an¬ 
swer so irritated his Maratanian Majesty, that he 
ordered him to quit his country; and he could hardly 
after that see him with patience. 

From hence he went on board the Prosperous, 
Capt. Howard, commander, who went to St. Mary’s, 
and thence to the main, as is said in that pirate’s 
life, and was one of the men left behind when they 
had a design to carry off Ort Van Tyle. This Dutch¬ 
man kept him to hard labour, as planting potatoes, 
&c. in revenge for the destruction and havoc made 
in his plantations by the crew of the Prosperous. 
He was here in the condition of a slave six months, 



CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


173 


at the expiration of which time, he had an opportu¬ 
nity to run away, leaving his consort, Thomas Col¬ 
lins, behind him, who had his arm broke when hq 
was taken by the Dutchman. 

Having made his escape from a rigid, revengeful 
master, he gdt to a black prince, named Rebaiha- 
rang, with whom he lived half a year. He from 
hence went and kept company with one John Pro, 
another Dutchman, who had a small settlement on 
shore, till the arrival of the men of war, commanded 
by Commodore Richards, who took both Pro and 
his guest Williams, put them in irons on board the 
Severn, till they came to Johanna, where the cap¬ 
tain of the Severn undertook for $2000 to go against 
the Mohilians, in which expedition several of the 
man of war’s crew were killed, and the two pirates 
made their escape in a small canoe to Mohila, where 
they sheltered themselves awhile in the woods, out 
of which they got provisions, and made over for 
Johanna. Here they recruited themselves and went 
away for Mayotta. The king of this island built 
them a boat, and giving them provisions and what 
necessaries they required, they made for and ar¬ 
rived at Madagascar, where, at Methelage, in lat. 16 
deg. 40 m. or thereabouts, they joined Captain White. 

Here they lay about three months ; then setting 
fire to their boat, they went into White’s, and round¬ 
ing the north end, came to Ambonavoula. Here 
Williams remained till Capt. White bought the ship 
Hopewell, on board of which he entered before the 
mast, and made a voyage to the Red Sea, towards 
the end of which he was chosen quarter-master. 
At their return they touched at Mascarenhas for 
provisions, where almost half the company went 
ashore and took up their habitations. 

From Mascarenhas they steered for Hopewell (by 
some called Hopeful) Point, on Madagascar, where, 
dividing their plunder, they settled themselves. 

15 * 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


174 

Twelve months after, the Charles brigantine, 
Capt. Halsey, came in, as is mentioned in his life. 
JWiliiams went on board him and made a voyage. 
At their return they came to Maratan, lived ashore, 
and assisted the king in his war against his brother, 
which being ended in the destruction of the latter, 
and a pirate lying at Ambonavoula, sending his long¬ 
boat to Manangcaro, within ten leagues of Maratan, 
Williams and the rest went on board, and in three 
months after he had been at Ambonavoula, he was 
chosen captain of the Scotch ship, mentioned in Hal¬ 
sey’s life. This ship he worked upon with great 
earnestness, and made the Scotch prisoners labour 
hard at the fitting her up for a voyage ; and she was 
nearly ready for sea, when a hurricane forced her 
ashore, and she was wrecked. 

Some time after this he set up and finished • 
sloop, in which he and ten of his men designed for 
Mascarenhas; but missing the island, they went 
round Madagascar, to Methelage, where he laid his 
vessel ashore and tarried a year ; but the king being 
tired with his morose temper, and he disagreeing 
with every body, was ordered to be gone, and ac¬ 
cordingly fitting up his vessel, he put to sea, intend¬ 
ing to go round the north end of the island ; but 
the wind being at E. S. E. and the current setting 
to N. W. he put back to a port called the Boyn, 
within ten leagues of Methelage, in the same king’s 
dominions whom he had left. The governor of this 
place was descended from the Arabs, and it was 
here that the Arabians traded. 

When he came to an anchor, he and three of his 
men (he had but five with him) went on shore, pad- 
died by two negroes. David Eaton and William 
Dawson, two of the men, required a guide, to show 
them the way to the king’s town ; the governor 
ordered them one, and at the same time laid an 
ambush for them in the road, and caused them to 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


175 

be murdered. When they had left the Boyn, Wil¬ 
liams and Meyeurs, a Frenchman, who also came 
ashore in the canoe, went to buy some samsams,* 
which are agate beads. As they were looking over 
these goods, a number of the governor’s men came 
about them, seized them both, and immediately 
despatched Meyeurs. Williams they bound, and 
tortured almost a whole day, by throwing hot ashes 
on his head and in his face, and putting little boys 
to beat him with sticks. He offered the governor 
2000 dollars for his life, but he answered, he would 
have that and the money too ; and accordingly, 
when he was near expiring, they made an end of 
him with their lances. 

After this barbarous murder, the governor thought 
of seizing the sloop, on board of which were no 
more tharx two white men, six negro boys, and 
some women slaves of the same colour. However, 
he thought it best to proceed by stratagem, and 
therefore putting a goat and some calabashes of 
toke on board Williams’ canoe, with twelve negroes 
armed, and the sloop negroes to paddle, he sent to 
surprise her. When the canoe came pretty near 
the vessel, they hailed, and asked if they would let 
them come on board ? One of the men asked Wil¬ 
liams’ negroes where the captam was 1 He answer¬ 
ed, drinking toke with the governor, and sent them 
provision and toke A negro wench advised the 
white man, whose name was William Noakes, not 
to let them come on board, for as four white men 
went ashore, and none of them appeared, she sus¬ 
pected some treachery. However, on the answer 
made him from the canoe, he resolved to admit 
them, and called them on board. No sooner were 
they come on deck, than one of them, snatching 
Noakes’ pistol, shot him through the head, and 
seizing the other white man, threw him overboard 


CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 


176 

and drowned him; after which, being masters of 
the vessel, they carried her in and rifled her. 

The king was at this time hunting, as is his cus¬ 
tom to hunt boars three months in the year ; but 
an account of these murders soon reached him. 
However, he continued the accustomed time of 
his diversion ; but when he returned home, and the 
whites who were about him demanded justice, he 
bade them be quiet, they might depend upon his 
doing it. He sent to the governor of Boyn, and 
told him, he was glad that he had cut off Williams 
and his crew, an example he was resolved to follow, 
and clear the country of them all; that he had 
some affairs to communicate to him, and desired he 
would come to court as soon as possible, but take 
care he was not seen by any of the whites, for fear 
they should revenge the death of their companions. 

The governor, on these orders, came away im¬ 
mediately, and stopped at a little town, two miles 
distant from the king’s, and sent word he there 
waited his commands. 

The king ordered him to be with him early 
next morning, before the white men were out of 
their beds. He set forward accordingly the next 
day betimes, but was seized on the road by negroes 
placed for that purpose, and brought bound to the 
king, who, after having reproached him with the 
barbarity of the action he had been guilty of, sent 
him to the white men, bidding them put him to 
what death they pleased ; but they sent word back, 
he might dispose of the lives of his subjects as he 
thought fit, but for their part, they would never draw 
a drop of blood of any who belonged to him. Upon 
which answer the king’s uncle ordered him to be 
speared, and he was accordingly thrust through the 
body with lances. The king, after this execution, 
sent to Boyn, and had every thing brought which 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


17 ' 


had belonged to Williams and his men, and divided 
it among the whites, saying, he was sorry the villain 
had but one life , to make atonement for the barbari¬ 
ty he had been guilty of 


I 

CAPTAIN SAMUEL BURGESS. 


Captain Samuel Burgess was born in New- 
York, and had a good education. He sailed some 
time ir a privateer in the West-Indies, and very 
often, the gang he was with, when the time of their 
cruising was expired, would make no ceremony of 
prolonging the commission by their own authority. 

By his privateering he got together some little 
money, and returned home, where the government 
having no notice, or at least taking none, of his 
piratical practice, in staying beyond the date of his 
commission, he went out mate of a ship, in the ser¬ 
vice of Frederick Phillips, bound to the island of 
Madagascar, to trade with the pirates, where they 
had the misfortune to lose their ship, and lived 18 
months at Augustin, when an English pirate coming 
in, the king of the country obliged him to go on 
board her, though much against his inclination, for 
he was tired of a roving life : but their choice was 
to go or starve, for the king would keep them no 
longer. 

He went with this free-booter to the East-Indies, 
where they made several rich prizes, and returned 



CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


ITS 

to St. Mary’s, where they took in provisions, wood, 
and water. Several of their gang knocked off here ; 
but the captain, Burgess, and the remainder, went 
away for the West-Indies, disposed of their plunder 
on the Spanish coast, and then returning to New- 
York, purposely knocked the ship on the head at 
Sandy Hook, after they had secured their money 
ashore. 

The government not being informed of thei-r 
piracy, they lived here without molestation, and, in 
a short time, Burgess married a relation of Mr. 
Phillips, who built a ship, called the Pembroke, and 
sent him a second time to Madagascar. In his way 
to this island, he went into the river of Dilagou on 
the African coast, where he took in a quantity of 
elephant’s teeth; and thence to Augustin, where 
he met with several of his old ship-mates, with 
whom he traded for money and slaves. Leaving 
this place, he went to Methelage, where he also 
took some money and negroes ; and from thence 
he shaped his course for St. Mary’s, on the east 
side, where he also drove a considerable trade with 
his old comrades, took several of them passengers, 
who paid very generously for their passage ; and 
taking with him an account of what was proper to 
bring in another trip, he returned to New-York, 
without any sinister accident. This voyage cleared 
,£5000, ship and charges paid. 

His owner, encouraged by this success, bade him 
choose what cargo he pleased, and set out again. 
Accordingly he laded with wine, beer, &c. and 
returning to Madagascar, arrived at Maratan, on the 
east side, where he disposed of a great part of his 
cargo at his own rates. At Methelage he disposed 
of the rest, and returned, clearing for himself and 
owner, £10,000, besides 300 slaves he brought to 
New-York. 

After a short stay at home, he set out again on 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


179 


the old voyage, fell in first with Methelage, where 
he victualled and traded, and from thence went 
round the south end, and sold part of his cargo at a 
large profit, to his old acquaintance. He made a 
trading voyage round the island, and at St. Mary’s 
met another ship belonging to nis owner, which had 
orders to follow his directions. He remained at this 
port till he had disposed of the cargoes of both ships. 
He then shaped his course homewards, with about 
twenty pirate passengers, who had accepted the 
pardon brought by Commodore Littleton. 

In his way he touched at the Cape of Good Hope, 
for wood, water, and fresh provision. While he was 
here, the Loyal Cook, an East-Indiaman, came in, 
who made prize of Burgess, and carried him to the 
East-Indies. He there would have delivered Bur- 
* gess’ ship to the governor of Madras, but the go¬ 
vernor would have no hand in the affair, and told the 
captain, he must answer to the East India company 
and Burgess’ owner for what he had done. 

Most of the pirate passengers thought themselves 
cleared by the act of grace ; but some, not willing 
to trust to it, got off with what gold they could, in a 
Dutch boat. They who trusted to the pardon, were 
clapped in gaol, and died in their irons. I cannot 
omit the simplicity of one of them, who had. how¬ 
ever, the wit to get off. When he designed to go 
away, he looked for his comrade for the key of his 
chest, to take his gold with him, which amounted to 
seventeen hundred pounds ; but this comrade being 
ashore, he would not break open the chest, for it 
was a pity, he said, to spoil a good new lock ; so 
left his money for the captain of the East-Indiaman. 

The news of this capture came to the owner be¬ 
fore the ship returned, and he sued the Company; 
but at their request, waited for the arrival of the 
Loyal Cook, which brought Burgess prisoner to 
England soon after. The Captain finding himself 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


180 

in an error, and that what he had done could not be 
justified, absconded ; and the Company made good 
the ship and cargo to the owner. Burgess was set 
at liberty, continued some time in London, was im¬ 
peached, and piracy sworn against him by Culliford, 
who, notwithstanding he came home on the act ol 
grace, was committed to Newgate, tried, and ac¬ 
quitted, though he was beggared. 

Burgess’ owner laboured very hard, and expend¬ 
ed great sums of money to save him. However, 
though he pleaded the necessity of his going on 
board the pir-ate, he was tried and condemned; but 
by the intercession of the bishops of London and 
Canterbury, was pardoned by the queen. 

After this, he made a broken voyage to the South 
Sea, lieutenant of a privateer, and returning to Lon¬ 
don, was out of business a whole year. He then 
shipped himself as mate on board the Hannah, after¬ 
wards called the Neptune, and went to Scotland to 
take in her cargo, the oAvner being of that country ; 
but before she got thither, he broke, the ship was 
stopped, and lay eighteen months before she was 
disposed of. At length, being set to sale, six Scotch 
gentlemen bought her, the old officers were con¬ 
tinued, and she proceeded on her first designed voy¬ 
age to Madagascar, in which the captain and Bur¬ 
gess quarrelling, caused the loss of the ship ; for 
the latter, who was acquainted with the pirates, 
when they arrived at Madagascar, instigated them 
to surprise her. The maimer how, being already 
set down in Halsey’s life, I need not repeat. 

I shall only take notice, that Capt. Miller being 
decoyed ashore, under pretence of being shown 
some trees, fit for masting, Halsey invited him to 
a surloin of beef, and a bowl of arrack punch; he 
accepted the invitation, with about twenty pirates. 
One Emmy, who had been a waterman on the 
Thames, did not come to table, but sat by, muffied 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


181 

up in a great coat, pretending he was attacked by 
the ague, though he had put it on to conceal his 
pistols only. After dinner, when Halsey went out, 
as for something to entertain his guests, (Miller and 
his supercargo,) Emmy clapped a pistol to the cap¬ 
tain’s breast, and told him he was his prisoner. At 
the same instant, two other pirates entered the 
room, with each a blunderbuss in his hand, and 
told the captain and his supercargo, that no harm 
should come to either, if they did not bring it upon 
themselves by an useless resistance. While this 
passed within doors, the wood being lined with 
pirates, all Miller’s men, whom he had brought 
ashore to fall timber, were secured, but none hurt, 
and all civilly treated. When they had afterwards 
got possession of the ship, in the manner mention¬ 
ed before, they set all their prisoners at liberty. 

Miller with eleven of his men, was sent off, as is 
said in Halsey’s life. The company chose Burgess 
quarter-master, and shared the booty they had 
made out of the Scotch ship, and the Greyhound. 

Soon after happened Halsey’s dentil, who left 
Burgess executor in trust for his widow and children, 
with a considerable legacy for himself; and the 
other pirates grumbling at a new comer’s being pre¬ 
ferred to all of them, took from Burgess £3000 of 
Halsey’s money, and <£1200 of his own, which was 
his share of the two prizes. Though he had been 
treated in this manner, they were idle enough to 
give him the command of the Scotch ship, and or¬ 
dered him to lit her out with all expedition, and to 
take on board some men and goods left in the bri¬ 
gantine. He set to work on the ship, with full de¬ 
sign to run away with her ; but some pirates, who 
were in another part of the island, being informed 
of these proceedings, thought it not prudent to trust 
him, so he left the ship, and getting among his old 
16 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


182 

comrades, by their interposition had ail his money 
returned. 

After this he lived five months on the island of 
St. Mary’s, where his house was, by accident, burnt 
down, out of which he saved nothing but his money. 
He then went on board David Williams, when he 
missed the island of Mascarenhas, and returned to 
Methelage, where he tarried with the king, and was 
one of the men among whom he divided Williams’ 
effects. 

From Methelage he went with a parcel of sam- 
sams to Augustin, with which he bought fifty slaves, 
whom he sold to the Arabians. In his return to 
Methelage, he met Capt. North, in a sloop, with 30 
of Miller’s men on board. These men proposed 
taking Burgess, who had, as they said, betrayed, ru¬ 
ined, and banished them their country, by forcing 
them to turn pirates; but North would not consent: 
upon which they confined him, took Burgess and 
stripped him of all the money, and then releasing 
their captain, gave him <£300 as his share, which he 
returned to Burgess on his arrival at Methelage. 

Burgess lived here two or three years, till he was 
carried off by some Dutchmen. They belonged to 
an East-Indiaman, and were taken by two French 
ships, which being bound for Mocha, and short of 
provisions, came into Methelage to victual, where 
they set 80 of their prisoners ashore. When they 
parted from this port, they sailed for Johanna, where 
they left the Dutch officers, who built a ship, and 
came back for their men. Burgess being of great 
use to them, they took him on board, and steered 
for a port, where some Dutch, taken in another 
ship, were marooned; but they were wrecked at 
Youngoul, where Burgess continued 18 months. 
After this time was expired, he was desirous of leav¬ 
ing the place, and addressed himself to the king, 


CAPTAIN BURGESS. 


183 

who was uncle to the king of Methelage, he re¬ 
quested his black majesty to send him back to that 
port, which he readily complied with, where Burgess 
continued almost five years, afflicted with sickness, 
in which he lost one eye. While he was here, the 
Drake pink, of London, came in for slaves. He took 
Burgess, with design to carry him home ; but Capt. 
Harvey, in the Henry, which belonged to the same 
owners, arriving, and being a stranger to the trade, 
at the request of Capt. Maggot, commander of the 
Drake, and on promise of a ship when in the West- 
Indies, he entered as third mate, and continued with 
him. Captain Harvey carrying it pretty high, and 
disagreeing with the king, lay here nine months be¬ 
fore he could slave. Burgess was sent up to tell 
the king he had not fulfilled his agreement with 
Capt. Harvey. The king resented being reproached 
by a man whom he had entertained so many years, 
and reviled him. He was, however, carried to din¬ 
ner with some of the principal blacks, and drank 
very plentifully with them of toke, in which it is sup¬ 
posed he was poisoned, for he fell ill and died soon 
after, leaving what he had to the care of the chief 
mate, for the use of his wife and children 


184 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


CAPTAIN NATHANIEL NORTH. 


Captain North was born at Bermuda, and was 
the son of a sawyer, which business he himself was 
bred up to, but took at last to the seas, at the age 
of 17 or 18, shipping himself cook on board a sloop, 
built at Bermuda, for some gentlemen of Barbadoes, 
with design to fit her out for a privateer. She was 
bound to her owners, but the master took Santa 
Udas in the way, and loaded with salt. When they 
came to Barbadoes, all the crew was pressed, and 
North with his companions were put on board the 
Reserve. 

The master applied himself to the governor, and 
got all his men cleared, North excepted, who, as he 
was a lad, was neglected, and left on board the mail 
of war, which soon after sailed for Jamaica. Some 
time before the Reserve was relieved from this sta¬ 
tion, he laid hold of an opportunity to run away, 
and shipped himself on board a sugar drover, in 
which way of life he continued about two years, and 
being an able sailor, though no artist, he was offered 
to go master of one of these coasters, which he re¬ 
fused, and went on board a privateer. 

The first cruise he made, they took a couple ot 
good prizes, which made every man’s share very 
considerable; but North, as he got his money lightly, 
so he spent it, making the companions of his dan¬ 
gers the companions of his diversions, or rather 
joining himself with them, and following their ex¬ 
ample ; which all (who are acquainted with the way 
of life of a successful Jamaica privateer) know is 
not an example of the greatest sobriety and econo 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


185 

my. His money being all spent, he took the same 
method for a recruit, that is, he went a second time 
privateering, and met with such success, that he en¬ 
gaged very heartily in this course of life, and made 
several lucky cruises. Some time after, he grew 
tired, thought of trading, and shipped himself on 
board a brigantine, bound for the Spanish coast, 
commanded by one Capt. Reesby. This vessel 
went both on the trading and privateering account, 
so that the men shipped for half wages, and equal 
shares of what prizes they should make, in the same 
manner as to the shares, as on board a privateer. 
Their trading answered very poorly, and their priva¬ 
teering business still worse, for they returned with¬ 
out making any prize. They were forced to leave 
the Spanish coast on account of a Spanish guarda- 
la-costa, of 40 guns and 350 Frenchmen, com¬ 
manded by a captain of the same nation. When 
they made the island of Jamaica, they fell in with 
Bluefields, off which place two French privateer 
sloops were cruising, one of which was formerly a 
privateer of Jamaica, called the Paradox. They 
immediately clapped Captain Reesby on aboard, 
taking him for a trader from the Spanish coast, and 
weakly manned. However, they were soon sensi¬ 
ble of the mistake, for Reesby took one of them, 
and the other was obliged to a good pair of heels for 
his safety. Reesby lost 10 men killed outright in 
the engagement, and had 7 wounded. The latter, 
though he had made but a broken voyage, he put 
ashore at Bluefields, and ordered great care to be 
taken of them, at the owners’ expense. Here he 
took in fresh provision, and then beat up to Port 
Royal, where Reesby paid his men very honourably, 
gave them a handsome entertainment, and begged 
they would not leave him, as he had a very great 
value for them all; but for North particularly, who 
16 * 


186 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


was a good swimmer, managed a canoe with great 
dexterity, and feared nothing. 

Upon this desire of the captain’s, North and the 
greater part tarried ashore till Capt. Reesby was 
refitted, and went a second voyage with him to the 
coast, at seventeen dollars a month, and no share. 
They carried 300 negroes, besides bale goods, and 
disposed of all the slaves, and goods to great advan¬ 
tage. Upon their return to Jamaica, after some 
stay on the island, Capt. Reesby not going out again, 
North went once more a privateering, and made 
considerable booty. While North was ashore after 
a cruise, he was pressed on board the Mary man of 
war, made a cruise in her to the Spanish coast, and 
returned to Jamaica; but hearing the Mary was 
soon to go to England, he, and three more, resolved 
to swim ashore from the keys, where the men of 
war lie, but he was taken as he was going oft' the 
head, and whipped. He, however, found means to 
make his escape, before the ship left the island, and 
went on board the Neptune sloop, a privateer, com¬ 
manded by Capt. Lycence, then lieutenant of the 
Reserve, who, while the ship was in the carpenter’s 
hands, got a commission of the governor to take a 
cruise. Capt. Moses, who commanded the Reserve, 
went on board their sloop, under the command of 
his lieutenant, for diversion only. They cruised oft 
Hispaniola, where they met with a French letter-of- 
marque, of 18 guns, and 118 men, who had the day 
before engaged the Swan man of war, and shook 
her off*. The Neptune attacked her, and Capt. 
Moses was one of the first wounded, and carried 
down. Lycence ordered to board, but the quarter¬ 
master, who steered, mistook the helm, the sloop 
fell off, and the French pouring in a volley of small 
shot, Capt. Lycence was killed, which being told to 
Moses, as the surgeon dressed him, he ordered 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


187 

North to the helm, bid them not to be discouraged, 
and he would be upon deck immediately. Accord¬ 
ingly, he came up as soon as dressed, laid the ship 
on board, where they made a very obstinate resist¬ 
ance ; but the French captain being killed, who re¬ 
ceived eleven shot before he dropped, they, at 
length, became masters. 

The privateer lost 10 men, and 20 were wounded. 
The French had 50 killed and wounded, among 
whom was the captain, who had received two shot, 
as he was going down to the surgeon to get his 
blood stanched, and came upon deck just as he 
was boarded, where, encouraging his men, he was 
distinguished and aimed at. When they had brought 
the prize into Jamaica, as she was an English bot¬ 
tom, built at Bristol, and called the Crown, the for¬ 
mer owners sued to have half the ship and cargo, 
and recovered one third. 

Capt. Moses’ ship not being fitted, he would take 
a second cruise in a privateer, and North went with 
him. Some time after their return, Capt. Moses be¬ 
ing cruising in the Reserve, North, who was ashore, 
was pressed on board the Assistance man of war; 
and on the Reserve’s coming in, being recommend¬ 
ed by Capt. Moses to his own captain, he was hand¬ 
somely treated, and made one of the barge’s crew. 
He was very easy till the Assistance was ordered to 
England, and then, as he was apprehensive of go¬ 
ing into a cold climate, he took his leave and said 
nothing. He then went on board a privateer again, 
and made several prizes, two of which were Eng¬ 
lish bottoms, and sued for by former owners. North 
thinking it hard to venture his life, and have part of 
his prize money taken away, and the press being 
hot in Jamaica, he resolved to sail no more with the 
English ; but went to Curacoa into the Dutch ser¬ 
vice, and sailed with a Spanish trader to the coast 
of New Spain several voyages. In the last lie made, 


188 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


they were chased ashore by a couple of French 
sloops, one of which was commanded by a Dutch¬ 
man, named Lawrence, who, with his comrade, took 
possession of their vessel and rifled her. The crew 
of the prize called to them, and asked if they would 
give them good quarters'? which they promised; took 
them all on board, and used them very handsomely. 

The French gave the prisoners a small sloop they 
took a while after, and they returned to Curacoa. 

He having now forgot his resentment, returned to 
Jamaica, and went on board and cruised in a Spanish 
barcalonga, of 10 guns, commanded by Capt. Lover¬ 
ing, born at Jamaica. They cruised three months 
in the West-Indies, and making but a small hand of 
it, they steered for Newfoundland, to try their fortune 
on the banks. Here they met a man of war, who 
renewed their commission for six months longer. 
The first prize they made was a French ketch, with 
a Spanish pass, and would have passed for a Spaniard, 
but by strict search, and threatening the men, they 
discovered her to be what she really was, though 
she liad, as a Spaniard, slipped through the fingers 
of a man of war before. 

They carried their prize into harbour, went again 
upon a cruise, met with a French letter-of-marque, 
a Bristol built ship, called the Pelican, of 18 guns, 
and 75 men, half laden with fish. This ship stood 
them a long argument; they clapped her on board, 
and two of their men entered, but missing lashing, 
the barcalonga fell astern, and the two men were 
made prisoners. However, they came up with her 
again, clapped her on board a second time, and car¬ 
ried her into the same port where they had left the 
ketch. 

They after this j)ut, to sea again, and being dis¬ 
covered by the French settlement ashore, they went 
into St. Mary’s Bay, where they fell in with a large 
French 'fly-boat, of 800 tons, 80 men, and 18 guns, 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


189 

laden with fish. They chased and came up with 
her, under French colours. When they were pretty 
near, the Frenchman hailed, and asked whence they 
came ? A Guernsey-man, at the bowsprit end, an¬ 
swered, from Petit Guave, that they had been cruis¬ 
ing on the Banks, and were going into the bay for 
refreshment. The Frenchman bade them come no 
nearer, but send their boat on board. They keep¬ 
ing on the chase, he fired" at them. They, did not 
mind this, but run up along side and boarded him. 
The French ran to their close quarters, and disputed 
the ship three quarters of an hour, when they all 
called for quarters except one man, who would take 
none, but ran like a madman into the midst of the 
English, and wounded several, though he was soon 
despatched by their pistols. They carried this prize 
to join the others, and turning all the prisoners 
ashore, except what were necessary to condemn 
their prizes, they stood, with a fleet of four sail, for 
Rhode-Island. 

Here they condemned the fly-boat and ketch, but 
found great difficulty in getting the Pelican con¬ 
demned, the English owners putting in their claim; 
but, at length, a Scotch lawyer did their business, 
upon leaving £300 in his hands to bear the charge 
of any future suit. Capt. Lovering dying here, the 
ship’s company bought the Pelican, broke up the 
barcalonga, sent her owners their shares, and got a 
commission for the master to cruise southward as far 
as the line, and to be valid for 18 months certain, 
two years allowing for accidents. 

They fitted this ship for a long voyage, out of the 
joint stock of the company; but iron hoops being 
scarce in New-England, they were obliged to take 
casks hooped with wood, which I mention, because 
it proved the ruin of their voyage to the East-Indies 
for a whole year. 

Being fitted for sea, they set sail and steered for 


190 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


the Cape of Good Hope, which they doubled in the 
month of June, made the best of their way to Ma¬ 
dagascar, and went into Augustin Bay, where they 
victualled and watered ; but before this was done it 
was August, which was too late to go to the East- 
Indies ; which they proposed to do with design to 
cruise on the Moors, not intending to pirate among 
the Europeans, but honestly and quietly to rob what 
Moors fell in their way, and return home with clean 
consciences, and clean, but full hands, within the 
limited time of their commission. 

From Augustin they went to Johanna, and the 
provision they had salted at Madagascar not being 
well done, it began to spoil. This, and their clothes 
wanting repair, made them desperately resolve to 
take the king of Johanna and make him ransom him¬ 
self ; but the master would not take charge of the 
ship, being unacquainted with the coast. They 
cruised among the islands, landed at Comaro, and 
took the town, but found no booty, excepting some 
silver chains, and checked linen. From hence they 
went to Mayotta, where they took in a Frenchman 
who had been marooned there, and maintained by 
the king. They consulted with him about surpris¬ 
ing and taking the town ; but he was averse to if, 
as he owed him the obligation of being preserved. 
However, he was in their hands, and must do as 
they would have him. They surrounded the king’s 
house after they had been three days in his town, 
and took him and all the inhabitants; but the king’s 
son made his way through the thickest of them with 
his cutlass, though he was shot afterwards. The 
pretence they made use of for this unjustifiable vio¬ 
lence, was, that the king had poisoned the crew of 
a ship, which was their consort. He denied it, as 
well he might, for they themselves never heard of a 
diip of the name they gave this fictitious one. The 
:ing they carried on board, the other prisoners they 



CAPTAIN NORTH. 


191 


put into a sort of temple, with a guard over them of 
36 men. 

The alarm being given in the country, the natives 
came down in a body, of some thousands, and at¬ 
tacked the guard; but the ship hearing the fire, and 
seeing the hills covered with blacks, discharged se¬ 
veral great guns, loaded with partridge, which made 
a very great slaughter, and obliged them to retire. 

The king ransomed himself for some silver chains 
to the value of a thousand dollars, and for what pro¬ 
vision they demanded ; and at setting him ashore, 
swore allegiance to them as masters of the country, 
and took an oath besides, never to poison any more 
white men. 

After this notable expedition, they stayed here a 
fortnight, though always on their guard, and then 
went back for Augustin with about twenty slaves, 
which they carried away with them for servants. 
Here a sickness coming among them, they built 
huts ashore. They lost, notwithstanding all their 
care and precaution, their captain and thirty men, 
by the" distemper which they contracted ; but it 
abating, they thought of going to sea again, but on 
examining their water casks, they found the hoops 
all worm eaten and rotten, so that there was nc 
proceeding ; but this defect was repaired by then 
cooper, who was an ingenious fellow. He went int< 
the woods with the Mayotta slaves, and with withe 
and other stuff he gathered, fitted them up, am 
made them tight; in acknowledgment of which ser 
vice they chose him captain, and North was madt 
quarter-master. 

At Augustin they picked up some stragglers, 
among whom was David Williams, and on a muster, 
they found they had 105 men. They then mad:* 
their vessel a free ship ; that is, they agreed every 
man should have an equal share in all prizes; and 
proceeded for the mouth of the Red Sea. 


192 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 


In the night, after they had reached their station, 
they made two ships; one was the Mocha frigate, 
of 40 guns, commanded by Culliford : she had been 
an East-Indiaman, under the command of one Capt. 
Stout; the other ship was called the Soldada, of 16 
guns, the captain’s name Shivers; they hailed one 
another, and on both sides gave the same answers, 
from the seas , and upon agreement, they all lay by 
that night. In the morning they consorted, and 
agreed to make an equal division of all prizes, which 
any of the three should take from that time for two 
months to come. 

The Pelican spared wood, water, and some 
of her hands to Capt. Culliford, and here Williams 
shifted on board him. About ten days after these 
three had joined company, a large Moor’s ship, 
on which they afterwards mounted 70 guns, hove in 
sight. 

They all gave chase, but the small ship came 
first up with the Moor, who exchanged several shot 
with the Soldada and Pelican ; but the Soldada clap¬ 
ped her on board, and before the Pelican could enter 
a man, the Moors called for quarters. In boarding 
the Moor, she fired a broadside upon the Soldada, 
but only two shot hulled her, and killed two men, 
which was the only loss they had in taking a thou¬ 
sand prisoners, passengers and sailors. 

All the money was carried on board the Mocha 
frigate, and divided between her crew and the Sol¬ 
dada, excluding without other reason than sic volu- 
mus , the Pelican from any share. The crew of 
the Pelican expostulated with them, and bid them 
remember they had spared both wood and water, or 
the Mocha could not have kept the station. Instead of 
any answer, they received a command to be gone, or 
they would sink them. They answered, they could 
not go by themselves, wanting the water and wood 
they had spared. The two consorts gave them a 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 193 

thousand dollars, and some water out of the Moor, 
telling them to buy Wood, where they could pur¬ 
chase it, and so left the Pelican to herself, going 
away for the coast of Malabar, where they put the 
prisoners and horses they had taken, ashore, sunk 
the Soldada, and thence went to the Isle of St. 
Mary’s on Madagascar. They shared out of this 
prize a thousand pounds a man in silver and gold, 
besides other goods; and the two pirates amounted 
to the number of 350 men. 

The Pelican kept the same station for some days, 
when a large Moor ship hove in sight. They gave 
chase, and the Moor not suspecting her for an 
enemy, did not endeavour to get away. When the 
Pelican came up, she fired for the Moor to bring to, 
which made him setliis small sails, though with the 
loss of several men; for the Pelican being close up, 
brought them down with small arms. When the 
Moor had, at length, hove out his small sails, the 
Pelican could not gain upon him enough to board, 
though she was not a pistol shot astern. Whenever 
she came upon his lee quarter, the Moor being a 
tall ship, took away the wind from the Pelican, and 
she could never get to windward of him/ She plyed 
her fore chase all this while, and drove the Moor’s 
from their stern chase, but could not, as they en¬ 
deavoured to do, strike the Moor’s rudder, or any 
other way disable him. At length by the fear and 
bad steerage of the Moor, the Pelican run up along¬ 
side of them, but as she missed lashing, she was ob¬ 
liged to shoot ahead. In the mean while the Moor 
wore round, the Pelican put in stays after him, but 
not staying, and being all in confusion, wore also; 
but in this time the Moor had got the start, and 
setting all the canvass he could pack on his ship’s 
back, wronged the Pelican and got off. 

The loss of this ship made the crew almost dis¬ 
tracted, and caused lor some time, a great division 
17 


194 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

among them ; some cursing the ship for a heavy 
sailer, and proposing to return home ; others curs¬ 
ing themselves, and the ill-management by which 
they missed lashing, and proposed going to Mada¬ 
gascar, and breaking her up, since as she was a 
single bottom, she must be worm eaten; but time, 
which molifies the greatest rage, abated these con¬ 
tentions, and put an end to the animosities which 
sprung from their disappointment. 

They now resolved for the Malabar coast, on 
which they took three Moor ships in a little time. 
The first they discharged, after taking out 6000 
dollars; the second they took for their own use, 
mounted her with 26 guns, and called her the Dol¬ 
phin: the third they sold on the same coast for 
18,000 dollars. Theii own ship they set adrift. 
From this coast they made for Madagascar, and 
near the island of Mascarenhas lost all their masts 
in a hurricane. They put up jury masts, came to 
St. Mary’s and new masted. Here they found 
Captain Culliford, Capt. Shivers, and their prize, 
with three merchantmen from America, which had 
come to trade with them, one of which was the 
Pembroke, commanded by Samuel Burgess, and 
belonging toFrederick Phillips, merchant, at New- 
York. The captain of the Dolphin, and some of 
the men being weary of this life, went home in these 
merchants ships, and the crew chose one Samuel 
Inless, who lived on the island, for their captain. 
They fitted out for the Straits of Malacca, where 
they made several prizes of Moor ships, but of little 
value to them. North, on boaid one of the prizes, 
was separated from the rest by bad weather, and 
drove to great distress for water. The Moor mer¬ 
chant, who was on board with him, and whom he 
had treated very humanely, showed him a draught, 
by which he came to a small island not far from the 
Dutch settlement, and watered. The Moor told 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 19.0 

him, that he ran the risk of his life should it be 
known that he had given him a sight of this draught. 
In return for this service, when he met witli his com¬ 
panions, he got the Moor’s ship discharged. After 
this they steered for Nicobar, near Achen, and, in 
the way, met a large Danish ship, which they plun¬ 
dered, and hove down by, cleaned, and returned to 
Madagascar, where they shared their booty, which 
was, besides goods, between 3 and <£400 a man. A 
month after their arrival, Commodore Littleton’s 
squadron appeared in sight, which occasioned their 
hauling up the Dolphin; and, as they could not get 
her so high as they designed, they set fire to her. 

Commodore Littleton brought a pardon for such 
of f he pirates as would accept it, and many of them 
did, among whom were Culliford and Shivers, who 
went home with merchantmen. North accepted 
it also, but would not trust to it, finding the time 
fixed for their surrender had elapsed before the 
men of war arrived. 

Most of the pirates having left the island of St. 
Mary’s, where the king’s ship lay, North thought 
it not safe for him to stay, and therefore putting all 
he had into the Dolphin’s boat, he designed to join 
his comrades on the main of Madagascar; but being 
overset by a squall, all the people were lost except 
himself, who swam ashore, and a negro woman 
whom he put on the bottom of the boat. 

Being now on the main, and quite naked, he 
frightened the negroes he met with, as he got out 
of the water, for they took him for a sea-devil; but 
one women, who had been used to sell fowls at the 
white men’s houses, had the courage not to run 
away, and, when he came near, knew him. She 
gave him some of her own clothing, and calling a 
negro man who carried her things, and had run into 
the woods, they helped him to perform his journey 
to the dwelling of some white men, which was six¬ 
teen miles from the place where he came on shore 


196 CAPTAIN NORTH. 

Being quite exhausted, he was kindly received and 
clothed by his comrades, whom he remained with 
till he had recovered his strength, and then went 
to a black prince of his acquaintance, with whom 
he tarried till the arrival of Capt. Fourgette, which 
was full a year. 

In this vessel, which I have already said in White’s 
life was taken, he went round the north end to the 
west side, and came into Methelage, where they 
surprised the Speaker; the manner of which is also 
mentioned in the same life ; and, after the death of 
Capt. Booth, was chosen captain’s quarter-master, 
by Bowen, who succeeded in the voyage, and the 
consequence of it are already set down, for he wc,s 
in the Speaker till she was lost. 

The next voyage he made was in the Speedy 
Return (taken from Capt. Drummond) in the capa¬ 
city of company’s quarter-master, with design to 
cruise in the Red Sea; but touching at the island of 
Mayotta, they consorted with Capt. Howard, whom 
they met with at the island, as is already said. 
From thence they went and victualled at Augustin, 
having promised Capt. Bowen to meet him in two 
months ; accordingly returning thither, and missing 
him, they went to Mayotta to inquire after him; 
but hearing that he was gone a voyage, and as the 
place of rendezvous was off the highlands of St. 
John’s, they steered their course thither, to join 
him, and lie for the Moor fleet for Mocha. 

In their passage they met with a violent storm, 
in which they were near foundering. It beat in 
their stern, and obliged them to throw over all their 
guns (two excepted, which lay in the hold) and 
forced them into the gulf of Persia, where they 
took several small vessels, which they ripped up to 
repair their ship. Being very much in want of water, 
having staved all their casks, to save themselves in 
the storm, and meeting with little in the vessels 
taken, they hoisted out the canoe to chase a fish- 


Captain north. i 97 

ing vessel, that they might be informed where they 
should find water. This boat made from them with 
all their force, but the ship firing, the people all 
leaped into the water, some of whom were drow n¬ 
ed, and the rest got ashore, except one man, whom 
they came up with; but as soon as they thought 
to lay hold of him, he dived, and kept them in play 
near an hour and a half. They w ould not shoot 
him, because it did not answer their ends ; but at 
length North, who was in the boat, took the sprit, 
and struck him as he rose, and broke his jaw. 
They took him by these means, brought him on 
board, sent him to the surgeon, and when they 
despaired of his being able to speak, lie asked for 
a pipe of tobacco, which he smoked, and drank a 
dram ; after which he seemed very hearty. As the 
pirates had on board several black slaves, who 
spoke the East-India tongue, one of them was or¬ 
dered to inquire of him where they might find win¬ 
ter, promising him his liberty if he would direct 
them. On this promise he carried them to a conve¬ 
nient landing place, where he showed a well, full of 
dirt, out of which, after a great deal of trouble to 
come at it, they drew but three buckets of water, 
which sufficed those only w ho went on shore, to the 
number of thirty. Enraged with this disappoint¬ 
ment after so much labour, they threatened their 
prisoner with death, who told them, if they w ould 
have patience till the sun was set, they would have 
plenty, for the spring would rise, and flow all night; 
which they found to be the fact, and filled twenty 
tons of water, and returned on board, carrying the 
man with them, for w hom they made a gathering 
of some goods, and about 30 dollars. These they 
gave him, and exacted a promise, that w henever 
he saw any ship on that coast, w hich made the 
same signals they had made, he w r ould go on board 
and render them w T hat service he could, assuring 


198 CAPTAIN NO&THi 

him he would always meet with civil treatment, 

and be well rewarded. 

After this they cruised in the gulf of Persia some 
days, in hopes of meeting their consort, not doubt¬ 
ing but she had some share in the storm; but the 
time of their partnership having at length expired, 
and she not appearing, they steered for the high¬ 
lands of St. John, near Surat, the place of rendez¬ 
vous. When they made the land they spied a ship, 
and immediately making all clear for an engage¬ 
ment, they gave chase. The other ship doing the 
like, they soon met, and to the great joy of both par¬ 
ties, she proved their consort. Upon inquiry they 
found the Prosperous had been ten days on this 
station, and had not met with the storm which had so 
roughly handled the Speedy Return. On giving an 
account of their misfortune, viz. their being obliged 
to throw over their guns, and a quantity of provi¬ 
sions, Capt. Howard spared them some fresh provi¬ 
sions, and expressing great concern for the acci¬ 
dent, renewed his consortship for two months 
longer ; that is, they agreed whatever prizes were 
taken should be equally divided between the crews 
of both ships. After they had cruised here fourteen 
days, they spied seven sail of lofty ships, which 
proved to be the Moors from Mocha. They both 
gave chase, but the Speedy Return being the better 
sailor, first came up with one of them, laid her 
on board and caried her in very little time, with 
little more damage them the loss of her bowsprit. 
The Prosperous continued the chase, and having 
Capt. Whaley on board as a pilot, took another at 
an anchor, as is related in Capt. Howard’s life. 

The Speedy Return steered with her prize for the 
coast of Malabar, where, by agreement, she was to 
wait ten days for her consort. In six days the Pros¬ 
perous joined them, but without any prize, having 
rifled and dismissed her 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 109 

Here they made an equal dividend of their prizes 
burnt theSpeedyReturn, sunk the Prosperous, went 
all onboard the Moor’s ship, put to sea, and cruised 
on this coast, where they made several prizes. 
When they came over against Cachine, some black 
merchants, goldsmiths,and severalDutchmen,came 
on board to trade with them, bringing a great many 
sequins, and other gold coin, to change for Spanish 
do llars. As many of the pirates designed to knock 
off and return home, they gave 500 dollars for 200 
sequins, for the conveniency of close stowage about 
them. The goldsmiths setup their forges on board 
the ship, and were fully employed in making them 
buttons, buckles, and what else they fancied,so that 
they had a fair opportunity of putting in what alloy 
they thought proper. They here also furnished 
themselves with a good quantity of arrack, provi¬ 
sions and stores, and then leaving the coast, shaped 
their course for Madagascar, but, in the way, fell in 
with the island of Mauritius, and put into a port 
called the North West Harbour. Here they wooded 
and watered. This port affords great abundance of 
a poisonous fish called theRed-Snapper, the nature 
of which was well known to Capt. Bowen, who per¬ 
suaded his men not to eat of them, but they were 
in port, and then are all commanders, so that this 
wholesome advice was thrown away upon them. 
The captain seeing their obstinacy, and that they 
could not be dissuaded, eat with them, chosing 
rather to share the same fate, than he left alone to 
the mercy of theDutch, as he was conscious of what 
he merited. They supped plentifully on the fish, 
and drank very heartily after it. Soon after they 
began to swell in a frightful manner. The next 
morning sone planters came on board with fowls, 
goats, &c. and seeing the pirates in a miserable 
condition, and some of these fish lying on the decks, 
asked if they had not eaten of them ? Being an- 


200 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

swered in the affirmative, they advised their drink¬ 
ing plentifully of strong liquors, which was the only 
way to expel the poison, which had dispatched 
them all in less time, had they not done it after their 
unfortunate meal. They readily followed this ad¬ 
vice, as the prescription was agreeable, and by this 
means, with the care of the surgeons, of whom they 
had several expert in their business, and stocked 
with good medicines, they all recovered, four ex¬ 
cepted, who paid their obstinacy with their lives. 

They here heeled their ship, scrubbed, tallowed, 
and took in what they wanted. When they had 
been three months in this port, the governor sent 
and desired them to put to sea, for he expected the 
arrival of the Dutch East-Indiamen. They accord¬ 
ingly got every thing ready, and went out, but left 
several of their men behind them, as we have re¬ 
lated in Bowen’s life. 

From hence they steered to Madagascar, and in 
their passage stopped at Don Mascarenhas, where 
they took in a quantity of hogs, goats, sheep, fowls 
of all sorts, and green turtle. Captain Bowen here 
went ashore with 40 of his men, having obtained 
the governor’s protection by the force of presents. 
These men designed to give over their piracy, and 
return home the first opportunities offered them. 
In six months after they landed here, Capt. Bowen 
was taken ill of the dry belly-ache, a distemper as 
common here as in the West-India Islands, died, 
and was buried in the highway, for the priests would 
not allow him holy ground, as he was a heretic. 

But to return. When Bowen went ashore, North 
was chosen captain. The ceremony of this instal¬ 
lation is as follows:—The crew having made choice 
of a person to command, either by an unanimous 
consent, or by a majority of suffrages, they carry 
him a sword in a very solemn manner, make him 
some' compliments, and desire he will take upon 









Pirates’ ship, and leaving them on an Island . 
Page 202. 






































































































































































































































































































































captain north. 201 

him the command, as lie is the most capable among 
them; that he will take possession of the great ca¬ 
bin : and, on his accepting the office, he is led into 
the cabin in state, and placed at a table, where on¬ 
ly one chair is set at the upper end, and one at the 
lower end of the table for the eomjiany’s quarter¬ 
master. The captain and he being placed, the lat¬ 
ter succintly tells him, that the company having 
experience of his conduct and courage, do him the 
honor to elect him for their head, not doubting his 
behaving himself with his usual bravery, and doing 
every thing which may conduce to the public good; 
in confidence of which, he, in the name of the com¬ 
pany, promises to obey all his lawful commands, 
and declares him captain. Then the quarter-mas¬ 
ter takes up the sword, which he had before pre¬ 
sented him, and he had returned, puts it into his 
hand, and says, This is the commission under icliich 
you are to act; may you prove fortunate to yourself and 
us. The guns are then fired round shot and all; he 
is saluted with three cheers; and the ceremony 
ends with an invitation from the captain to such 
as he thinks fit to have dine with him, and a 
large bowl of punch is ordered to every mess. 

Capt. North, leaving this island, steered for Ma¬ 
dagascar* and came to Cape Dolphin at the south 
end, where he anchored, and took on board some 
refreshments, but it blowing hard, he was obliged 
to put to sea, and leave his boat with 30 men be¬ 
hind him. He ran along the east side of the island, 
and came to Ambonavoula, in lat. 17 deg. 38 m. 
where they put on shore some of their goods, and 
settled themselves among the negroes, several 
living u) a house. Here they lived as sovereign 
princes among the inhabitants. 

The Moor prisoners they kept on board, and al¬ 
lowed them sufficient fresh provisions. North pri¬ 
vately told the boatswain of the Moors to take ad- 


202 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

vantage of the land breeze in the night time, and 
go off witli the ship, and what goods were left on 
board, or the pirates would soon haul her up, take 
every thing on shore, and they never see their own 
country again. Accordingly the boatswain, fol¬ 
lowing this advice, laid hold of the opportunity of 
a dark night, and communicating his design to the 
other Moors, whom he did not acquaint with this 
advice, as North charged him not, till he was on 
the point of executing his design, they weighed 
with great silence and stood to sea. 

The next morning some of the pirates proposed 
to go on board and bring off some iron and other 
things to trade with in the country; but they were 
strangely surprised when they missed the ship. 
They alarmed the rest of their comrades, and went 
in a body to Capt. North, to tell him what had hap¬ 
pened. He answered, if the Moors were gone off 
with the ship, it was their own fault; they ought to 
have left a sufficient number of hands on board to 
have secured her ; and there was now no remedy 
but patience, for they had no vessel to pursue with, 
except they thought the canoe proper. 

Some of the pirates thought, as she lay in foul 
ground, the cable might be cut by some rock, and 
the ship blown off to sea by that accident. On start¬ 
ing this, some of them ran up to an eminence, and 
from thence spied the ship as far as they could 
well see, with all sail set, which was a cruel and 
convincing proof that their loss was irreparable. 

They endeavoured to make themselves easy, 
since there was no help; and transporting their 
goods to different abodes, at small distances, they 
settled themselves, buying cattle and slayes, and 
lived in a neighbourly manner, one among another, 
five years, cleared a great deal of ground, and 
planted provisions, such as yams, potatoes, &c. 
The natives among whom they fixed, had frequent 




CAPTAIN NORTH. 203 

broils and wars among themselves, but the pirates 
interposed, and endeavoured to reconcile all differ¬ 
ences, North deciding their disputes with that im¬ 
partiality and strict regard to distributive justice, 
(for he was allowed, by all, a man of admirable 
good natural parts) that he ever sent away, even 
the party who was cast, satisfied with the reason, 
and content with the equiiy of his decisions. 

These inclinations which the pirates showed to 
peace, and the example they set of an amicable way 
of life,(for they carefully avoided all jars, and agreed 
to refer all cause of complaint among themselves 
which might arise, to a cool hearing before North, 
and twelve of their companions,) gave them a great 
character among the natives, who were before very 
much prejudiced against the white men. Nay, in 
this point of keeping up a harmony among them¬ 
selves, they were so exact, that whosoever spoke 
but in an angry or peevish tone, was rebuked by all 
the company, especially if before any of the country 
people, though even but a slave of their own; for 
they thought, and very justly, that unity and concord 
were the only means to warrent their safety ; for the 
people being ready to make war on one another 
upon the slightest occasion, they did not doubt but 
they would take the advantage ofany division which 
they might observe among the whites, and cut them 
off whenever a fair oportunity offered. 

The example they set, and the care they took to 
accomodate differences among their neighbours, 
had calmed all the country round them. After 
they had lived here near three years, Capt. North, 
and some of his companions, had a mind to visit the 
country southward, and trade lor more slaves and 
cattle; to which end, taking a considerable quantity 
of powder and arms, beside what they might use, 
with 50 whites and 300 natives, he set forward on 
his journey. When they had traveled about 80 


204 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

miles southward, they came to a nation rich in 
slaves and cattle, who inhabited the banks of the 
largest river on the east side of the island, called 
Mangora. With these people he trafficked for a 
great number of slaves and cattle, which he pur¬ 
chased for guns and powder. They being at war 
when Capt. North came among them, with a neigh • 
bouring prince, he was entreated to give his assist¬ 
ance, for which they, the Mangorians, promised 
him 100 slaves with 500 head of cattle, and all the 
prisoners they should take. On these conditions he 
joined them, and marched to a very large town of 
the enemy’s, which was naturaly very strong, and 
esteemed by the natives impregnable, being situ¬ 
ated on a high and craggy rock, which could be 
ascended by the way only leading to the gate, were 
was kept a strong guard. The blacks in North’s 
army were for leaving this town unattempted, and 
marching farher into the country, in search of 
booty; but North told them it was not safe to leave 
a garrison of enemies at their backs, which would 
continually infest them by falling on their rear, and 
which would be an obstacle to their carrying off 
what plunder they might get together ; beside, it 
would be an asylum for all the country, which would 
fly thither till they had gathered a body considera¬ 
ble enough to come down and face them in the 
open field, which the enemy might do with reason¬ 
able hopes of success, as their men would be all 
fresh, while those of his party would be fatigued 
with marches, perhaps encumbered by plunder, and 
worn down with the inconveniences of lying ex¬ 
posed in the fields. 

The chief of his allies allowed his reasons good, 
were an attempt on the town practicable, which 
experience told him was not; for, though several 
times besieged, it never could be taken, and it would 
be til# loss of a great deal of time, and many men’s 




CAPTAIN NORTH. 205 

lives to attempt it. North desired he would leave 
the management of this siege to him. The chief 
answered, he should do as he pleased, hut it was 
against his judgment to attack a town which nature 
herself had fortified, which God Almighty would 
never suffer to be taken, and which had, to no pur¬ 
pose, cost the lives of a number scarce to be told, 
of his countrymen, in the several attempts they had 
made to be masters of it. 

North disposed his army, and invested the rock 
on every side; then sent word to the town, if they 
did not surrender, he would give no quarter to 
either sex or age. The inhabitants laughed at his 
message, and told him, that they did not believe he 
had learnt the art of flying, and till he had, they 
thought themselves very secure from his putting 
such menaces in execution. 

Out of the white men, North chose 30, whom he 
set at the head of three companies, consisting of] 00 
blacks each; and as they had some grenade-shells 
with them, soon dispersed the guard at the foot of 
the rock, and made a lodgement. Though the 
blacks were acquainted with fire-arms, the shells 
were entirely new to them, and as they saw their 
terrible effect, threw down their arms, and gained 
the middle of the rock, where they had another 
corps de guarde , though not without some loss. 
Those who were at the bottom of the rock being 
put to flight, North sent 10 whites and 500 blacks 
to kike that post, and orders to the other whites to 
mount the rock, and having beat that guard, if pos¬ 
sible, to enter the town with them. They accord¬ 
ingly ascended in this order, as the road was so 
narrow, only three could pass abreast; and as the 
enemy, when within cast of a dart, threw down a 
shower upon them, three unarmed blacks with their 
Shields marched before three small shot men, and 
sheltered them from the enemy’s weapons. These 
18 


206 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

were followed by others, with the same precau¬ 
tion, the white men being mixed with those who 
thus went up, that is to say, one white musketeer 
to two blacks. 

The enemy seemed resolute to defend the pass, 
but when they had, to no purpose, spent a number 
of darts, and had lost some men by the shot, they 
swiftly took to the top of the rock, where, joined 
with fresh men from the town, they made a stand 
and show of resistance. North’s men followed, and 
pouring in a volley, put them into confusion, which 
gave the assailants an opportunity to come near 
enough to throw in their shells, half a dozen of 
which bursting with considerable damage, and the 
slaughter of several men, they thought to shelter 
themselves in the town, but the inhabitants, fearing 
the enemy’s entering with them, shut the gates 
against both, so that the blacks of North’s army, 
notwithstanding all the whites could do to the 
contrary, made a great slaughter ; however, they 
saved some, whom they sent prisoners to the 
camp, desiring at the same time, a supply of pow¬ 
der to make a petard. 

In the mean while the enemy from the town 
threw a prodigious quantity of darts, which the 
besiegers received upon their shields, at least, 
the greater part. 

The town was again summoned, but they refused 
to surrender; wherefore they were obliged to shel¬ 
ter themselves as well as they could, and expect 
the powder from the camp ; though in the mean 
while the small shot from without being warmly 
plied, the throwing of darts from the town became 
less frequent, for no one could show his head but 
with the greatest danger. 

When the powder came, they cut down and hol¬ 
lowed a tree, which they filled with powder, and 
plugged up very tight, and under the protection of 




CAPTAIN NORTH. 207 

their shields and muskets, got into the gate, under 
which they dug a hole large enough to receive it, 
then setting fire to the fuse, it burst with a terrible 
crack, tore their gate to atoms, and left an open 
passage, which the besiegers, who had been joined 
with 500 more blacks, who came up with the pow¬ 
der entered, and began a very great slaughter. 
The whites protected all they could who submitted, 
but notwithstanding their diligence, the town Avas 
strewed with dead and dying men. At length, what 
with being tired, and what with persuasion, the 
slaughter ceased, the toAvn was reduced to ashes, 
and the conquerors returned to camp with 3000 
prisoners, whom his allies led to their own quai 
ters, where culling out the old women, children, 
and useless slaves, they sent them to North, as if 
by these they thought themselves released from 
the promise made to induce his assistance. 

When North saw the dishonesty of these people, 
he sent for their prince, and told him,“According to 
agreement all the slaves belonged to him; nay, 
according to justice, he alone had a right to them, 
since he despaired of taking the toAvn, so far as to 
dissuade his besieging it; and that he not only owed 
to him their success, but even the safety of his 
army, and all the plunder they should make in the 
prosecution of the war, for reasons already given, 
and by himselfallowed to be good. That he thought 
he had allied himself to a people of integrity, but 
he Avas sorry to say, he found himself quite mistaken 
in his opinion, since they Avere so far from making 
good their treaty,that theysent him out of the slaves 
taken, instead of all, those only Avhom they knew 
not Avhat to do with ; that they must not imagine 
him so blind as not to perceive Iioav disingenuously 
he was dealt with; or that he Avanted either strength 
or resolution to resent the usag'e.” 

He then asked Avhat was become of a number of 


208 


CAPTAIN NORTH, 
young and handsone women he had seen among 
the captives ? The prince answered/ 4 that those 
he inquired after, were his and his countrymen’s 
relations, and as such, they could not consent to, 
nor could he require, their being made slaves.” 

This answer made, the chief left him. As it was 
delivered in a pretty haughty tone, it did not a little 
nettle both North and his comrades. The latter 
were for immediately doing themselves justice; but 
the former begged they would have patience, and 
rely on him. They followed his advice, and he sent 
an interpreter, who inquired privately among the 
women what relation they bore to the people of the 
river ? The prisoners answered, that some of their 
forefathers had intermarried with that nation. 

I must here take notice, that notwithstanding the 
inhabitants of Madagascar have but one language, 
which is common to the whole island, the difference 
of the dialect, in different nations, makes it very 
difficult for any but the natives, or those who have 
been a great many years (more than North and his 
companions had been) among them, to understand 
them perfectly, which is the reason he made use of 
an interpreter, as well between him and the chief, 
as between the slaves and him. 

When he had received this answer from the pri¬ 
soners, he w T ent to the prince, and told him, 44 It 
was vory odd he should make war on his relations; 
however, he should keep them, since he declared 
them such, till he could prove his right better than 
the prince could his nearness of blood; that as he 
had once taken them, he would try if he could not 
support the justice of his claim, and told him there¬ 
fore to be upon Ms guard, for he openly declared, 
he was no longer the ally, but the professed ene¬ 
my of faithless people.” 

Saying this, he and his blaeks separated them¬ 
selves fromtheMangorians, andNorth divided them 


Capt. North and the Mongorians attacking the gate of the 

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CAPTAIN NORTH. 209 

into companies, with his white men at the head of 
each, and ordered them to fire ball over the heads of 
their late allies. The first volley was a prodigious 
astonishment to the Mangorians, several of whom 
ran away, but North firing two more immediately, 
and marching up to them,brought the prince and the 
head officers ofhis armyto him,crawling on all fou rs. 
They (as the custom of showing the greatest sub¬ 
mission is among them)kissed the feet of the whites 
and begged they would continue their friendship 
and dispose of every thing as they thought proper. 

North told him, “ Deceit was the sign of a mean 
and cow r ard soul; that had he, the prince, thought 
too considerable, what, however, was justly his due, 
because not only promised to, but taken by him, he 
ought to have expostulated with him, North, and 
told him his sentiments, which might have, it was 
possible, made no division, for neither he nor his 
men were unreasonable; but as the prince had not 
the courage publicly to claim the slaves, he would 
have basely stolen them by false pretences of kin¬ 
dred, it was a sign he did not think such claim justi- 
able,as certainly it was not, for all his captains could 
witness their prince had agreed the prisoners taken 
should be given to the whites, and his companions, 
a sufficient title, to mention no other. That he had 
resolved to show them, by a severe chastisement, 
the abhorrence those of his colour have to ingrati¬ 
tude and deceit, and what difference there was in 
figlitingon the ground of justice,and the supporting 
wrong and injury; but as they acknowledged their 
error, he should not only forgive but forget what 
was past, provided no new treachery, in his return, 
which he resolved upon, refreshed his memory.” 
He then ordered them to bring all the slaves, and 
they punctually complied without reply. 

North chose out the finest and ablest among 
them, and dividing the whole number of prisoners 
18* 


210 CAPTAIN NORTH* 

into two equal bands, he kept that in which he had 
placed the chosen slaves, and sent the other to the 
prince, telling him, “ though neither fraud nor com¬ 
pulsion could wring a slave from him, yet justice, 
as some of his troops had shared the danger, and a 
generous temper, had sent him that present, which 
was half the spoil, though he could not think of go¬ 
ing any farther on with the war; that he ought to 
content himself with the taking a town hitherto 
thought impregnable, and blame his own conduct, 
if he should continue in the field, and hereafter find 
the want of his assistance.” 

■ The prince and his people admired the penetra¬ 
tion, bravery, and generosity of the whites, and 
sent them word, “he was more obliged to them for 
the lesson they had taught him by their practice, 
than for the slaves they had presented him, though 
he esteemed the present as he ought. That for the 
future he should have an abhorrence for every mean 
action, since he had learned from them the beauty 
of a candid, open, sincere procedure. At the same 
time, he thanked him for the present, and not suf¬ 
fering his resentment to go farther than the fright¬ 
ening him into his duty; for he was sensible his balls 
were not fired over their heads, but by orders pro¬ 
ceeding from the humanity of the whites, who, he 
observed, were tender over the lives of their ene¬ 
mies, contrary to the custom of his countrymen, 
who give quarter to none, the females and infants 
excepted, that there may hereafter be none to take 
revenge ;\ and therefore begged he would suffer 
their submission to get the better of his design to 
depart.” This could not prevail. The whites and 
their friends, who came with them, turned their 
faces towards home, taking their slaves and cattle 
with them; and though the Mangorians were sensi¬ 
bly touched at the obstinacy of North’s resolution, 
yet they parted very amicably. 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 21i 

As the whites were returning’ home with their 
company, they fell in with another nation, the Ti- 
mouses, whose prince joined North, with 500 men, 
and swore a strict amity with him and his crew. 

The ceremony used among the natives, as it is 
uncommon, so an account of it may, perhaps, be 
agreeable. The parties who swear to each other, 
interweave their toes and fingers, so that they must 
necessarily sit very close to each other. When they 
have thus knit their hands and feet, they recipro¬ 
cally swear to do each other all friendly offices, to 
be a friend or enemy to the friend or enemy of the 
party to whom they swear; and if they falsify the 
oath they make, they imprecate several curses on 
themselves, as may they fall by the lance, be de¬ 
voured by the alligator, or struck dead by the hand 
of God. Then an assistant scarifies each of the 
contracting parties on the chest, and wiping up the 
blood with a piece of bread, give's this bloody bread 
to each of them to cat, that is, each eats the blood 
of the other; and this oath, whether it be with equal 
parties, or with a prince and his subject, where the 
one promises protection and the other obedience, 
(which was the nature of that taken between North 
and this prince) is looked upon inviolable, and they 
have few examples of its being broken ; but where 
any has been wicked enough to violate this solemn 
oath, they say, they have been ever punished ac¬ 
cording to their imprecations. 

As tliis prince had war with powerful neigh¬ 
bours, he left his country, taking with him all his 
great men, wives, and relations, with a company of 
about 500 fighting men, followed North, and set¬ 
tled by him, where he remained two years. During 
this space, being supplied with arms and powder 
by Capt. North, he made several inroads into the 
countries of his enemies, and made all he con- 
(jucred swear allegiance to Capt. North. 


212 CAPTAIN NOftTH* 

At the expiration of two years, Captain Halsey 
came in with a brigantine, as is related in the life of 
Capt. White. This crew, having made a broken 
voyage, where discontented with their captain, and 
desired North to take the command upon him ; hut 
he declined it, saying, Halsey was every way as 
capable, and that they ought not to depose a man, 
whom they could not tax with either want of cou¬ 
rage or conduct; and for his part, he would never 
take the command from any one who did not justly 
merit dismission, which was not Halsey’s case. 

The crew were not, however, satisfied, and they 
made the same offer to White, but byNorth’s indus¬ 
try, they were, at last, prevailed on to continue 
their old commander ; and as North and his com¬ 
panions had expended their money in settling their 
plantations, and wanted clothes, the former, there¬ 
fore, accepted the quarter-master’s post underHal- 
sey, and the others went in the capacity of private 
gentlemen adventurers, I mean plain foremast men, 
as may be gathered in the life of that pirate, to 
which I refer for an account of the expedition they 
made in the Red Sea. Capt. Halsey on board a 
prize, left North to command the brigantine they 
set out in. The two commanders were separated 
by a storm, but both made for Madagascar. Halsey 
got to Ambonavoula, but North fell in with Marat- 
an, where finding the brigantine was very much 
worm eaten, and made a great deal of water, with 
one consent, they took ashore all their goods, and 
laid up their vessel. 

The pirates continued here a whole year, when 
being desirous of goingtoAmbonavoula,"theyasked 
the king’s assistance to build a boat, and he, for 
1000 dollars, set negroes to work, under the direc¬ 
tions of Capt. North, and a vessel of J5 tons was set 
up and launched with great dispatch. In this 
boat they went to a river, called Manangaro, thirty 



CAPTAIN NORTH. 213 

leagues to the northward of Maratan. Here some 
of their comrades came to them in a boat belonging 
to theScotch ship Neptune, and helped to trans¬ 
port their goods toAmbonavoula, where he had be¬ 
fore settled, and had a woman and three children. 

He had not been long returned before his neigh¬ 
bouring natives reported, that the Ihmouses, who 
had followed him from the southward, had a design 
to rebel against, and murder him and the other 
whites, which giving too easy credit to, he made 
war upon, and drove these poor people out of the 
country. 

Some time after he built a sloop, and went toAn- 
tonguil, where he purchased 90 slaves, and took in 
the Scotch supercargo, Mr. George Cruikeshank, 
with a design to carry him to Mascarenhas; but all 
his comrades were against it, saying, when he got 
to Europe, he would prove their dest ruction. North 
answered, that nothing could be more cruel, after 
they had taken the greater part of what the poor 
gentleman had, than to keep him from his country, 
family, and friends. For his part, were he his pri¬ 
soner he should not ask their consent in doing an 
act of humanity, and the only one they were able, 
towards making him some reparation, since they 
could not return his goods, which were parcelled 
out into so many shares. 

On North’s saying thus much, they put the affair 
in question to vote, and there being many who 
were under obligations to North, and whom he in¬ 
fluenced in favour of the supercargo, 48 out of 54 
voted for discharging him. North having gained 
this point, the pirates asked if he also designed to 
take with him one John Barnard, a young Scotch¬ 
man, a great favourite of his, who had been mid¬ 
shipman on board the Neptune, a thorough seaman, 
and very capable of taking the command in any 
voyage. He answered, there was a necessity for 


214 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

taking him, since he should want his assistance, as 
he depended on his knowledge. His companions 
said Barnard would certainly give him the slip, 
which would be a loss to them all, as he was an ex¬ 
cellent navigator, and therefore his detention was 
necessary to the common good. To this North 
answered, that his own security would oblige his 
taking care that he should not get from him, since 
no other on board was capable of finding the way 
back to Ambonavoula. 

He wxnt to Mascarenhas, where the supercargo 
and his negro were put on shore with all the money 
he had, which amounted to about 1600 dollars; for 
when the pirates made prize of the Neptune, in the 
manner already stated, they took none of the money 
they themselves had before paid for liquors, &c. 
either from the captain, supercargo, or any other 
on board; for that they looked upon a base, as well 
as dishonest action; but to the ship and remaining 
part of the cargo, they had a fair title, viz. they 
wanted both. 

North would not suffer Barnard to go ashore. 
However, to make him amends for his confinement, 
he gave him four negroes, whom he sold for 300 
dollars, and took care that he should live plentifully 
and well on board. North’s business at this island, 
was to get letfve to carry his children there to be 
educated in the Christian faith, which, after some 
rich presents made the governor, he obtained, and 
returned to Madagascar. In the voyage, as Bar¬ 
nard was very greatly in his favour, and his con¬ 
fidant, he told him, his design was to leave his chil¬ 
dren at Mascarenhas, and place fortunes for them 
in the hands of some honest priest, who would give 
them a Christian education (for he thought it better 
to have them papists, than not Christians) and would 
then go back to Maratan, and endeavour, by his pe¬ 
nitence, to make atonement for his fomer life and 


CAPTAIN NORTH. 215 

never more go off the island on any account; that 
he would give his sloop toBarnard,with 200 dollars, 
that he might find some means to return home, 
since he very wisely refused to join with the pirates. 

When he came on the Madagascar coast, he 
heard a French ship had touched there, and left 
some men behind; upon which account North ran 
to the southward 100 leagues out of his way, to in¬ 
quire after and assist these people. 

He found hut one man, whom he took home with 
him, clothed and maintained him. When he came 
hack to Ambonavoula, he found the country all in 
an uproar, arid the rest of his companions preparing 
for a war with the natives; but his arrival restored 
their former quiet. After four months stay at home, 
he fitted his sloop to go out and purchase slaves at 
Antonguil; but finding few there to his mind, for in 
two months he bought but 40, he returned to his 
settlement. He designed now to carry his children 
to Mascarenhas, but being dissuaded by Barnard on 
account of the season, he went to Methelage on the 
west side of the island to trade for samsams. Hav¬ 
ing purchased a considerable quantity of them, he 
went to Johanna, thence to Mayotta, and returned 
again to Madagascar; but not being able to get 
round the north end, on account of the current, he 
put for Mayotta again. On the west side of this 
island he put into a port, called Sorez, where some 
time before, came a ship from England to trade, 
commanded by one Price, who going ashore with 
his doctor was detained (as was also his boat’s crew) 
till heredeemed himself and surgeon, with 200 bar¬ 
rels of powder and 1000 small arms; but was forced 
to leave his boat’s crew, not having wherewithal to 
ransom them, though the demand was only two 
small arms for each man. These poor creatures 
were afterwards sold to the Arabians. In revenge, 
North and his crew landed, burnt a large town, and 


216 CAPTAIN NORTH, 

did all the damage they could. From Mayotta he 
went again to Madagascar, were a king of his 
acquaintance told him the whites and natives were 
at war at Ambonavoula. He bought 30 slaves, re¬ 
freshed his crew, and went home. On the news of 
his arrival, the natives sent to conclude a peace, but 
he would not listen to them ,* on the contrary, raised 
an army, burnt a number of towns, and took a 
great many prisoners. 

This success brought the natives to sue in a very 
humble manner for a cessation of arms, that a ge¬ 
neral peace might follow. This he agreed to about 
four months after his arrival. 

His enemies, having now the opportunity, cor¬ 
rupted some of the neighbouring natives, and in 
the night surprised and murdered him in his bed. 
His comrades, however, being alarmed, took to 
their arms, drove the treacherous multitude be¬ 
fore them with great slaughter, and to revenge 
North’s death, continued the war seven years, in 
which time they became masters of all the country 
round, and drove out all who did not swear alle¬ 
giance to them. 

North had his will lying by him, which directed 
Barnard to carry his children to Mascarenhas, in 
his sloop, wdiich he left to him. He was at the 
charge of fitting her up, and laid out the greater 
part of the money North bequeathed him ; but the 
pirates would not suffer him to stir while the wars 
lasted, fearing he would not return, having never 
joined them in any piracies ; and therefore, by one 
consent, setting fire to the sloop, they detained him 
several years 




JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


217 


AN ACCOUNT 

Of the piracies and cruelties of John Augur, Wil¬ 
liam Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William 
Dowling, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George 
Bendall, and William Ling, tuAo were tried, cow 
demned, and executed at Nassau, (N. P.) on Fri¬ 
day, the 10th of December, 1718. .#& 0 , some wc- 

coow/ o/ Me pirates. Vane, Rackham, and others. 


About the 20th of July, 1718, Mr. Woodes Rogers, 
Governor and Vice-Admiral of the Bahama Islands, 
being sent from England with the king’s proclamation 
and pardon for all pirates who had surrendered by a 
time specified in the said proclamation, arrived at 
Providence. It was evening when the fleet came 
off the town of Nassau in the said island, when 
Richard Turn ley, the pilot, did not judge it safe to 
venture over the bar that night, wherefore it was 
resolved to lay by till morning. 

In the mean time, there came some men on 
board the fleet fromoffa little island, called Harbour- 
Island, adjacent to Providence. The advice they 
brought was, that there were near a thousand 
pirates on shore upon the island of Providence, wait¬ 
ing for the king’s pardon, which had been long ex¬ 
pected. The principal part of their commanders 
were Benjamin Hornygold, Arthur Davis, Joseph 
Burgess, Thomas Carter, and they were all in or 
about the town of Nassau ; that the fort was ex¬ 
tremely out of repair, there being only one gun 
mounted, a nine pounder, and no accommodation 
19 


JOHN AUGUR. AND OTHERS. 


218 

for men, but one little hut or house, which was 
inhabited by an old fellow, whom the pirates, in de¬ 
rision, called Governor Sawney. 

The fleet was seen from the harbour, as well as 
the town, so that Capt. Charles Vane, who had no 
design of surrendering, but, on the contrary, had fit¬ 
ted out his ship with a resolution of attempting new 
adventures, took the advantage of the night to 
contrive his escape ; and though the harbour was 
blocked up, and his ship drew too much water to 
get out by the east passage, he shifted his hands, 
and things of most value, into a lighter vessel, and 
charging all the guns of the ship he quitted, with 
double, round and partridge, he set her on fire, ima¬ 
gining that some of the ships, or their boats, might 
be sent near him, and he might do some mischief 
when it should burn down to them. 

Those in the fleet saw the light, and heard the 
guns, and fancied the pirates on shore were making 
bonfires, and firing guns for joy that the king’s free 
pardon had arrived ; and Capt. Whitney, command¬ 
er of the Rose man of war, sent his boat with a lieu¬ 
tenant on shore, which was intercepted by Vane, 
who carried the crew on board and stripped them 
of some stores they had in the boat. He kept them 
till he got under sail, which was till day-break, 
when there was light enough for him to see how to 
steer his way through the east passage; which was 
no sooner done but he hoisted a black flag, and fired 
a gun, and then let the lieutenant and boat’s crew 
depart and join the fleet. 

The fleet got safe into the harbour, and as soon 
as the lieutenant arrived on board, and related what 
had passed, the Buck sloop was ordered to chase 
Vane. She made what sail she could through the 
east passage after him, having a recruit of men well 
armed sent to her from the other ships ; but being 
heavily laden with rich goods, Vane had the heels 



JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


219 

of her, which the commodore observing, made a 
signal for her to give up the chase and return, 
which she did accordingly. 

They immediately fell to mooring and securing 
their ships, which took up the time till night. Next 
morning the governor went on shore, being received 
at his landing by the principal people in the govern¬ 
ment of the place, viz. Thomas Walker, Esq. Chief 
Justice, and Thomas Taylor, Esq. President of the 
Council. The pirate captains, Ilornygold, Davis, 
Carter, Burgess, Currant, and Clark, with some 
others, drew up their crews in two lines, reaching 
from the water side to the fort, the governor and 
other officers marching between them. In the 
mean time, being under arms, they made a running 
fire over his head. 

Having arrived at the fort, his commission was 
opened and read, and he was sworn in governor of 
the island, according to form. 

The next day the governor made out a commis¬ 
sion to Richard Turnley, the chief pilot, to Mr. 
Salter, a factor, and some others, to go on board 
and examine all suspected ships and vessels in 
the harbour, to take an inventory of their several 
ladings, and to secure both ships and cargoes for 
the use of the king and company, till such time as 
a Court of Admiralty could be called, that they 
might be lawfully cleared or condemned by proving 
which belonged to pirates, and which to fair traders. 

The day following a court-martial was held, in 
which a military discipline was settled, in order to 
prevent surprises, both from Spaniards and pirates, 
till such time as the fort could be repaired, and put 
into a condition of defence. For this purpose the 
governor was obliged to make use of some of the 
pardoned pirates, such as Hornygold, Davis, and 
Burgess, to whom he gave some commands: and 
George Fetherston, James Bonney, and Dennis 


220 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

Mackarthy, with some other pirates of a lower 
rank, acted under them as inferior officers. 

Soon after, the civil government was also settled, 
some of the principal officers being appointed 
justices of the peace ; others of inferior degree, 
constables and overseers of the ways and roads, 
which were overgrown with bushes and underwood, 
all about the town of Nassau; so that if an enemy 
had landed in the night, they might lie in ambus¬ 
cade in those covers, and surprise the town ; where 
fore, several of the common pirates were employed 
in clearing them away. 

The governor, with some soldiers, guarded the fort, 
and the inhabitants, who were formed into trained 
bands, took care of the town; but as there was no 
sort of accommodation to lodge such a number of 
people, they were forced to unbend the sails, and 
bring them on shore, in order to make tents, till 
they had time to build houses, which was done with 
all possible expedition, by a kind of architecture 
altogether new. 

Those that were built in the fort were done by 
making six little holes in the rock, at convenient 
distances, in each of which was stuck a forked pole ; 
on these, from one to the other, were placed cross 
poles or rafters, which being lathed at top, and 
on the sides, with small sticks, were afterwards 
covered with Palmata leaves, and then the house 
was finished; for they did not much trouble them¬ 
selves about the ornaments of doors and windows. 

In the mean time the repairs of the fort were car¬ 
ried on, and the streets were ordered to be kept 
clean, both for health and convenience, so that it 
began to have the appearance of a civilized place. 
A proclamation was published for the encourage¬ 
ment of all such persons as should be willing to 
settle upon the island of Providence, by which every 
person was to have a lot of ground of a hundred 





















Capt. Vane destroying his ship and making his escape . Page 2IS. 



































































JOHN AU3UR AND OTHERS. 


221 

and twenty feet square, any where in or about the 
town of Nassau, that was not before in the posses¬ 
sion of others, provided they should clear said 
ground, and build a house tenantable, by a certain 
time therein limited, which might be easily done, as 
they might'have timber for nothing. This had the 
effect proposed, and a great many immediately fell 
to work, to comply with the conditions, in order to 
settle themselves there. 

Many of the pirates were employed in the woods 
in cutting down sticks to make palisadoes; and all 
the people belonging to the ships, officers excepted, 
were obliged to work four days in the week on the 
fortifications, so that in a short time a strong en¬ 
trenchment was cast round the fort, and being well 
palisadoed, it was rendered tolerably strong. 

But it did not much suit the inclinations of the 
pirates to be set to work ; and though they had pro¬ 
vision sufficient, and had also a good allowance of 
wine and brandy to each man, yet they' began to 
have such a hankering after their old trade, that many 
of them took opportunities of seizing periaguas, 
and other boats, in the night, and making their 
escape, so that in a few months, there was not many 
of them left. 

However, when the Spanish war was proclaimed, 
several of them returned back again of their own 
accord, tempted with the hopes of being employed 
upon the privateering account, for that place lying 
near the coast of Spanish America, and also not far 
from the Gulf of Florida, seemed to be a good sta¬ 
tion for intercepting the Spanish vessels going to 
old Spain. 

They were not mistaken in this supposition ; for 
the governor according to the power vested in him, 
did grant commissions for privateering, and made 
choice of some of the principal pirates who had con¬ 
tinued upon the island, in obedience to the pardon, 
19 * 


222 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

for commanders, as being persons well qualified for 
such employments, who made up their crews chiefly 
of their scattered companions, who were newly 
returned upon the hopes of preferment. 

About this time a fishing vessel, belonging to the 
island of Providence, brought in the master of a ship 
and a few sailors, whom she had picked up at sea 
in a canoe. The said master was called Captain 
King, who sailed in a ship called the Neptune, be¬ 
longing to South-Carolina, laden with rice, pitch, 
tar, and other merchandise, bound for London. 

The account he gave of himself was, that he was 
met with by Charles Vane, the pirate, who carried 
him into Green Turtle Bay, one of the Bahama 
islands, by whom he was plundered of a great part 
of his cargo, which, consisting chiefly of stores, was 
of great use to them ; that afterwards they cut away 
part of one of the masts of the ship, and .fired a 
gun down her hold, with intent to sink her ; that 
they took some of his men into their service, and 
when they were sailing off, gave him and the rest 
a canoe to save themselves; that with this canoe 
they made shift to sail from one little island to ano¬ 
ther, till they had the good luck to meet the fishing 
boat which took them up ; and that he believed 
Charles Vane might still be cruising thereabouts. 

Upon this intelligence, the governor fitted out a 
ship which was named the Willing Mind, manned 
with 50 stout hands, well armed, and also a sloop 
with 30 hands, which he sent to cruise among those 
islands, in search of Vane, the pirate, giving them 
orders also to endeavour to recover the ship Nep¬ 
tune, which Capt. King told them had still goods of 
considerable value left in her. 

They went out accordingly, but never saw Vane. 
However, they found the Neptune, which was not 
sunk as the pirates intended; for the ball they 
fired into her stuck in the ballast, without passing 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


223 

through. They returned with her about the 10th' of 
November; but an unlucky accident happened to 
the Willing Mind, occasioned either by the igno¬ 
rance or carelessness of the pilot, which bilged in 
going over the bar. 

In the mean time Vane made towards the coast 
of Hispaniola, living riotously on board, having an 
abundance of liquor, and plenty of fresh provisions, 
such as hogs, goats, sheep, and fowl, which he got 
upon easy terms; for touching at a place called 
Isleathera, he plundered the inhabitants of as much 
of their provision as they could carry away. Here 
they cruised to about February, when, near the 
windward passage of Cape Mase, they met with a 
large rich ship of London, called the Kingston, laden 
with bale goods, and other rich merchandise, and 
having several passengers on board, some English, 
and some Jews, besides two women. 

Towards the north end of Jamaica, they also met 
with a turtle sloop, bound in for that island, on board 
of which (after having first plundered her) they 
put the captain of the Kingston, some of his men, 
and all the passengers except the two women, 
whom they detained, contrary to their usual prac¬ 
tice. 

The Kingston they kept for their own use; for 
now their company being strengthened by a great 
many recruits, some volunteers and some forced 
men out of the Neptune and Kingston, they thought 
they had hands enough for two ships. Accordingly 
they shifted several of their hands on board the 
Kingston, and John Rackham, alias Calico Jack, (so 
called, because his jackets and drawers were always 
made of calico) quarter-master to Vane, was unani¬ 
mously chosen captain of the Kingston. 

The empire of these pirates had not been long 
thus divided before they had like to have fallen into 
a civil war among themselves, which must have 


224 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

ended in the destruction of one of them. The fatal 
occasion of the difference between these two bro¬ 
ther adventurers, was this. It happened that Vane’s 
liquor was all out, who sending to his brother cap¬ 
tain for a supply, Rackham accordingly spared him 
what he thought fit; but it falling short of Vane’s 
expectation, as to quantity, he went on board of 
Rackham’s ship to expostulate with him, so that 
words arising, Rackham threatened to shoot him 
through the head, if he did not immediately return 
to his own ship; and told him likewise, that if he 
did not sheer off, and part company, he would sink 
him. Vane thought it best to take his advice, for 
he thought the other was bold enough to be as good 
as his word, for he had it in his power to be so, his 
ship being the largest and strongest of the two. 
Accordingly they parted, and Rackham made for 
the island of Princes, and having great quantities 
of rich goods on board, taken in the late prizes, they 
were divided into lots, and he and his crew shared 
them by throwing dice, the highest cast being to 
choose first. When they had done, they packed up 
their goods in casks, and buried them on shore in 
the island of Princes, that they might have room for 
fresh booty. In the mean time it happening that a 
turtle sloop, belonging to Jamaica, came in there, 
Rackham sent his boat and brought the master on 
board of him, and asking him several questions, the 
master informed him that war with Spain had been 
proclaimed in Jamaica; and that the time appointed 
by the general pardon for pirates to surrender, in 
order to receive the benefit thereof, had not ex¬ 
pired. 

Upon this intelligence Rackham and his crew sud¬ 
denly changed their minds, and were resolved to 
take the benefit of the pardon by a speedy surren¬ 
der; wherefore, instead of using the master ill, as 
the poor man expected, they made him several pre - 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


225 


sents, desiring him to sail back to Jamaica, and ac¬ 
quaint the governor they were willing to surrender, 
provided he would give his word and honour they 
should have the benefit of the pardon; which, ex¬ 
tensive as it was, they apprehended they were not 
entitled to, because they had run away in defiance 
of it at Providence. They desired the master also 
to return with the governor’s answer, assuring him 
he should be no loser by the voyage. 

The master very willingly undertook the commis¬ 
sion, and arriving at Jamaica, delivered his message 
to the governor, according to his instructions; but 
it happened that the master of the Kingston, with 
!iis passengers, having arrived at Jamaica, had ac¬ 
quainted the governor with the piracies of Vane and 
Rack ham, before the turtle got thither, who was 
actually fitting out two sloops, which were now just 
i eady, in pursuit of them, so that the governor was 
very glad to discover, by the turtler’s message, 
where Rackham was to be found. 

The two sloops, well manned, accordingly sailed 
out, and found Rackham in the station where the 
turtler had described him, but altogether in disorder, 
and quite unprepared, either for sailing or fighting, 
most of his sails being on shore, erected into tents, 
and his decks lumbered with goods. He happened 
to be on board himself, though most of his men 
were ashore, and seeing the two sloops at a distance, 
bearing towards him, he observed them with his 
glass, and fancied he saw on board something like 
preparations for fighting. This was what he did 
not expect, for he looked for no enemy, and while 
he was in doubt and suspense about them, they came 
so near that they began to fire. 

He had neither time nor means to prepare for de¬ 
fence, so that there was nothing to be done but to 
run into his boat, and escape to the shore, which he 
did accordingly with the few hands he had with him. 


226 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

leaving tne two women on board to be taken by the 
enemy. 

The sloops seized the Kingston, manned her, and 
brought her into Jamaica, having still a great part 
of her cargo left. When she arrived, the master ol 
her fell to examining what part of the cargo was 
lost and what left; he searched also for his bills of 
lading and eockets, but they were all destroyed by 
Rackham; so that the ship being freighted by seve¬ 
ral owners, the master could not tell whose property 
was saved, and whose lost, till he had fresh bills of 
parcels of each owner from England. There was 
one remarkable piece of good luck which happened 
in this affair; there were, amongst other goods, 
sixty gold watches on board, and thirty of silver; 
the "pirates divided the silver watches, but the gold 
being packed up amongst some bale goods, were 
never discovered by them, and the master, in search¬ 
ing, found them all safe. 

In the mean time, Rackham and his crew lived in 
the woods, in very great suspense what to do with 
themselves. They had with them ammunition and 
small arms, and also some of the goods, such as 
bales of silk stockings, and laced hats, with which, 
it is supposed, they intended to make themselves 
fine. They had arlso two boats and a canoe. 

Being divided in their resolutions, Rackham, with 
six more, determined to take one of the boats, and 
make the best of their way for the island of Provi¬ 
dence, and there claim the benefit of the king’s par¬ 
don, which they fancied they might be entitled to, 
by representing, that they were carried away by 
Vane, against their wills. Accordingly they put 
some arms, ammunition, and provision, into the best 
boat, and also some of the goods, and set sail, 
^hey first made the Island of Pines, from thence 
got over to the north side of Cuba, where they de¬ 
stroyed several Spanish boats and launches; one 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


oo- 


they took, which being a stout sea boat, they shifted 
themselves and their cargo into her, sunk their own, 
and then stretched over to the island of Providence, 
where they landed safely about the middle of May, 
1719, where demanding the king’s pardon, the go¬ 
vernor thought fit to allow it them, and certificates 
were granted to them accordingly. 

Here they sold their goods, and spent the money 
merrily. When all was gone, some engaged them¬ 
selves in privateers, and others in trading vessels. 
But Rackham, as captain, having a much larger 
share than any of the rest, his money held out a 
little longer; but happening about this time to form 
a criminal acquaintance with one Ann Bonny, a 
married woman, he became very extravagant, and 
found it necessary, to avoid detection and punish¬ 
ment, to abscond with his mistress. 

For this purpose they plotted together to seize a 
sloop which then lay in the harbour, and Rackham 
drew some brisk young fellows into the conspiracy. 
They were of the number of the pirates lately par¬ 
doned, and who, he knew, were weary of working 
on shore, and longed to be again at their old trade. 

The sloop they made choice of was between 30 
and 40 tons, and one of the swiftest sailers that ever 
was built of that kind. She belonged to one John 
Haman, who lived upon a little island not far from 
Providence, which was inhabited by no human crea¬ 
ture except himself and his family. His livelihood 
and constant employment was to plunder and pillage 
the Spaniards, whose sloops and launches he had 
often surprised about Cuba and Hispaniola, and 
sometimes brought off a considerable booty, always 
escaping by a good pair of heels, insomuch that it 
became a bye-word to say, there goes John Haman , 
catch him if you can. His business to Providence 
now, was to bring his family there, in order to live 
and settle, being weary, perhaps, of living in that 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


■ 228 

solitude, or else apprehensive, if any of the Spa¬ 
niards should discover his habitation, they might 
land, and be revenged on him for all his pranks. 

Ann Bonny was observed to go several times on 
board this sloop. She pretended to have some busi 
ness with John Haman; but always went when he 
was on shore, for her true errand was to discover 
how many hands were on board, and what kind o. 
watch they kept, and to know the passages and 
ways of the vessel. 

She discovered as much as was necessary. She 
found there were but two hands on board, and that 
John Haman slept on shore every night. She in¬ 
quired of them whether they watched; where they 
lay; and many orther questions; to all which they 
readily answered her, as thinking she had no design 
but common curiosity. 

She acquainted Rackham with every particular, 
who resolved to lose no time, and therefore, ac¬ 
quainting his associates, who were eight in number, 
they appointed an hour for meeting at night, which 
was 12 o’clock. They were all true to the roguery, 
and Ann Bonny was as punctual as the most reso¬ 
lute, and being all well armed, they took a boat and 
rowed to the sloop, which was very near the shore. 

The night seemed to favour the attempt, for it 
was both dark and rainy. As soon as they got on 
board, Ann Bonny, having a drawn sword in one 
hand, and a pistol in the other, attended by one of 
the men, went straight to the cabin where the two 
fellows lay who belonged to the sloop. The noise 
awaked them, which she observing, declared that if 
they pretended to resist, or make a noise, she would 
blow their brains out. 

In the mean time, Rackham and the rest were 
busy heaving in the cables, one of which they soon 
got up, and for expedition sake, they slipped the 
other, and so drove down the harbour. They passed 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


229 


pretty near the fort, which hailed them, as did also 
the guard-ship, asking them where they were go 
ing? They answered, their cable had parted, and 
that they had nothing but a grappling on board, 
which would not hold them ; immediately after 
which they set a small sail, just to give them steer¬ 
age way. When they came to the harbour’s mouth, 
and thought they could not be seen by any of the 
ships, on account of the darkness of the night, they 
hoisted all the sail they had, and stood to sea ; then 
calling up the two men, they asked them if they 
would be of their party; but finding them not in¬ 
clined, they gave them a boat to row themselves 
ashore, ordering them to give their service to Ha- 
man, and tell him they would send him his sloop 
again when they had done with her. 

Rackham and his paramour both bore a great 
spleen to Richard Turnley, who was gone from Pro¬ 
vidence, turtling, before they made their escape, 
and they knowing what island he was upon, made 
to the place. They saw the sloop about a league 
from the shore, and went on board with six hands ; 
but Turnley, with his boy, by good luck, happened 
to be ashore salting some wild hogs they had killed 
the day before. They inquired for him, and hearing 
where he was, rowed ashore in search of him. 

Turnley, from the land, saw the sloop boarded, 
and observed the men afterwards making for the 
shore, and being apprehensive of pirates, which 
were very common in those parts, he, with his boy, 
fled into a neighbouring wood. The surf being very 
great, so that they could not bring their boat to 
shore, they waded up to the arm-pits, and Turnley, 
peeping through the trees, saw them bring arms on 
shore. Upon the whole, not liking their appearance, 
he, with his boy, lay snug in the bushes. 

When they had looked about and could not see 
him, they called him aloud by name; but he not 


230 John augur and others. 

„ , / 

appearing, they thought it time lost to look for him 
in such a wilderness, and therefore returned to their 
boat, but rowed again back to the sloop, and took 
away the sails, and several other things. They 
also carried away with them three of the hands, 
viz. Richard Connor, the mate, John Davis, and 
John Howel, but rejected David Soward, the fourth 
hand, though he had been an old and experienced 
pirate, because he was lame, and disabled by a 
wound he had formerly received. 

When they had done thus much, they cut away 
the mast, and towing the vessel into deep water, 
sunk her, having first put David Soward into a boat 
to shift for himself. He, however, got ashore, and 
after some time, found Turnley. 

From thence, Rackham stretched over to the 
Bury Islands, plundering all the sloops he met, and 
strengthening his company with several additional 
hands, and so went on till he was finally taken and 
executed at Port Royal, Jamaica. 

About this time, the governor, in conjunction 
with some factors then residing at Providence, 
thought fit to freight some vessels for a trading 
voyage. Accordingly the Bachelor’s Adventure, a 
schooner, Capt. Henry White, commander; the 
Lancaster, sloop, Capt. William Greenway, com¬ 
mander ; the May, sloop, Capt. John Augur, com¬ 
mander, of which last David Soward was owner, 
(she having been given him by some pirates his 
former associates) in which he also sailed this voy¬ 
age, were fitted out with a cargo of goods and 
merchandise, bound for Port Prince, on the island 
of Cuba. 

The governor thought it advisable, for the benefit 
of the inhabitants of Providence, to settle a corres¬ 
pondence with some merchants of Port Prince, first, 
in order to procure fresh provisions, there being 
scarce any upon the island at the governor’s firs 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


231 


arrival; and there being at Port Prince great plenty 
of cows and hogs, he proposed to get a sufficient 
number of each, to stock the island for breed, that 
the people for the future might have fresh provision 
of their own. 

They set sail on Sunday, the 5th of October, 1718. 
The next day they arrived at an island known by the 
name of Green Key, lying S. S. E. from Providence, 
in lat. 28 deg. 40 m. being distant about 25 leagues. 
Here they cast anchor, in order to wait for morning 
to carry them through some rocks and shoals which 
lay in their way, and some hands went ashore to try 
to kill something for supper before it should be dark. 
They expected to meet some wild hogs, for some 
time before, one Joseph Bay and one Sims, put two 
sows and a boar on said island; for they living at 
that time at Providence, and being continually vi¬ 
sited by pirates, were always plundered of their 
fresh provisions, wherefore they thought of settling 
a breed upon Green Key, that they might have re¬ 
course to in time of necessity. 

This island is about nine miles in circumference, 
and about three miles broad in the widest place. It 
is overgrown with wild cabbage and Palmata trees, 
and nas a great variety of other herbs and fruits, so 
that there is plenty of food for the nourishment of 
such animals; but the trees growing so close to¬ 
gether, makes it bad hunting, and they killed but 
one hog, which, however, was of a monstrous size 

The hunters returned on board their ships again 
before seven, having first divided the hog, and sent 
part on board each vessel for supper that night. 
After supper, Capt. Greenway and Oapt. White 
came on board of Capt. Augur’s sloop, in order to 
consult together what time to sail, and being all 
of opinion that if they weighed anchor between the 
hours of 10 and 11* it would be day before they 
would come up with the shoals, they agreed upon 


232 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


that hour for setting sail, and so returned to their 
own vessels. 

Soon after, Phinehas Bunch, and Dennis Mackar- 
thy, with a great many others, came from White’s 
sloop, on board of Augur’s. Their pretence was, 
that they came to see Richard Turnley and Mr. 
James Carr, who had formerly been a midshipman 
‘n the Rose man of war, under Capt. Whitney, and 
3eing a great favourite of Governor Rogers, he had 
appointed him supercargo of this voyage. They 
desired to be treated with a bottle of beer, for they 
knew Mr. Carr had some that was very good in his 
care, which had been put on board, in order to 
make presents of, and to treat the Spanish mer¬ 
chants with. 

As it was not suspected they had any thing 
else in view, Mr. Carr readily went down, and 
brought up a couple of bottles of beer. They sat 
upon the poop with Capt. Augur in their company, 
and were drinking their beer; before the second 
bottle was out, Bunch and Mackarthy began to rat¬ 
tle, talk with great pleasure, and much boasting of 
their former exploits when they had been pirates, 
crying up a pirate’s life to be the only life for a man 
of any spirit. While they were running on in this 
manner, Bunch on a sudden started up, and swore 
he would be captain of that vessel. Augur answered 
him the vessel did not want a captain, for he was 
able to command her himself, which seemed to put 
an end to the discourse for that time. 

Soon after Bunch began to tell what bright arms 
they had on board their sloop ; upon which, one of 
Augur’s men handed up some of their cutlasses 
which had been cleaned that day. Among them 
was Mr. Carr’s silver-hilted sword. Bunch seemed 
to admire the sword, and asked whose it was 'l Mr. 
Carr made answer, it belonged to him. Bunch re¬ 
plied it was a very handsome one, and drawing it 


JOHN AtTGUR AND OTHERS. 


233 


out, marched about the poop, flourishing it over his 
head, and telling Mr. Carr he would return it to him 
when he had done with it. At the same time he 
began to vapour again, and to boast of his former 
piracies, and coming near Mr. Carr, struck him with 
the sword. Turnley bid him take care what he did, 
for Mr. Carr would not take such usage. As they 
were disputing upon this matter, Dennis Mackarthy 
stole off, and, with some of his associates, seized 
upon the great cabin, where all the arms lay. At 
the same time several of the men began to sing a 
song with these words. Did you not promise me, 
that you would marry me —which it seems was the 
signal agreed upon among the conspirators for 
seizing the ship. Bunch no sooner heard them, but 
he cried out aloud, that / will, for I am parson, 
and struck Mr. Carr again several blows with his 
own sword. Mr. Carr and Turnley both seized him, 
and they began to struggle, when Dennis Mackar¬ 
thy, with several others, returned from the.cabin 
with each a cutlass in one hand, and a loaded pistol 
in the other, and running up to them, said, What! 
do the governor's dogs offer to resist ? And beating 
Turnley and Carr with their cutlasses, threatened 
to shoot them, at the same time firing their pistols 
close to their cheeks, upon which Turnley and Can- 
begged their lives. 

When they were thus in possession of the vessel, 
they hailed Capt. Greenway, and desired him to 
come on board about urgent business. He, knowing 
nothing of what had passed, jumped into his boat, 
and with two hands only, rowed on board. Dennis 
Mackarthy led him into the cabin, and, as soon as 
he was tliere, laid hold of him, telling him he was 
now a prisoner, and must submit. He offered to 
make some resistance ; upon which, they told him 
all resistance would be vain, for his own men were 
in the plot; and, indeed, seeing the two hands who 

20 '“ 


234 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

rowed him aboard, now armed, and joining with the 
conspirators, he thought it was time to submit. 

As soon as this was done, they sent some hands 
on board to seize his sloop, or rather to acquaint his 
men with what had been done, for they expected 
to meet with no resistance, many of them being in 
the plot, and the rest, they supposed, not very 
averse to it; after which, they decoyed Captain 
White on board, by the same stratagem they used 
with Greenway, and likewise sent on board his sloop, 
and found his men, one and all, well disposed for the 
design; and what was most remarkable was, that 
Captain Augur, seeing how things were going, 
joined with them, showing himself as well inclined 
for pirating as the worst of them. 

Thus they made themselves masters of the three 
vessels with very little trouble. The next thing to 
be done was to resolve how to dispose of those who 
were not of their party. Some we for killing 
Richard Turnley, but the majority carried it for 
marooning, that he might be starved, and die like a 
dog, as they called it. Their great spleen to him 
was, because he was the person who had piloted the 
governor into Providence. 

Accordingly, Turnley, with John Carr, Thomas 
Rich, and some others, were stripped naked, and 
tumbled over the vessel’s side into a boat which lay 
along side. The oars were all taken out, and they 
left them nothing to work themselves ashore with 
but an old paddle, which, at other times, served to 
steer the boat, and so they commanded them to be 
gone. However, they made shift to get safe ashore 
on the island, which, as we observed before, was 
quite uninhabited. 

The next morning Dennis Mackarthy, with seve¬ 
ral others, went on shore, and told them they must 
come on board again, and they would give them 
some clothes to put on. They fancied the pirates 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


235 

began to repent of the hard usage they had given 
them, and were willing to return upon such an er¬ 
rand ; but when they got on board again, they found 
their opinion of the pirates’ good nature was very ill 
grounded, for they began with beating them, and 
did it as if it were in sport, one having a boatswain’s 
pipe, the rest beating them till he piped belay. f 

The true design of bringing them on board again, 
was to make them discover where some things lay, 
which they could not readily find, particularly Mr. 
Carr’s watch and silver snuff-box ; but he was soon 
obliged to inform them in what corner of the cabin 
they were, and there they were found, with some 
journals and other books, which they knew how to 
make no other use of than turning them Into car¬ 
tridges. Then they began to question Thomas Rich 
about a gold watch which had once been seen in his 
possession on shore at Providence; but he protested 
that it belonged to Capt. Gale, who was commander 
of the guard-ship called the Delicia, to which he 
then belonged ; but his protestations would have 
availed him little, had it not been that some on 
board, who belonged also to the Delicia, knew it to 
be true, which put an end to his beating; and so 
they were all discharged from their punishment for 
the present. 

Some time after, fancying the pirates to be in bet¬ 
ter humour, they begged for something to eat, for 
they had none of them had any nourishment that 
day or the night before; but all the answer they 
received was, that such dogs should not ask such 
questions. In the mean time, some of the pirates 
were very busy endeavouring to persuade Captain 
Greenway to engage with them, for they knew him 
to be an excellent artist; but he was obstinate and 
would not. Then it was proposed to maroon him, 
which was opposed by some, because he was a Ber¬ 
mudian, meaning, that he might perhaps swim away, 


236 


JOHN AUGTJR AND OTHERS. 


or swim on board his vessel again, for the Bermu¬ 
dians are all excellent swimmers ; but as he repre¬ 
sented, that he could not hurt them by his swim¬ 
ming, he obtained the favour for himself and the 
other officers, to be set ashore with Turnley, Carr, 
and Rich. Accordingly, they were put into the 
same boat without oars, to the number of eight, 
and were ordered to make the best of their way on 
shore. 

The pirates, the next day, having examined all 
their vessels, and finding that Greenway’s sloop was 
not fit for their purpose, shifted every thing out of 
her. Those that were sent on shore could see from 
thence what they were doing, and when they saw 
them row off, Greenway swam on board the sloop, 
it is likely, to see whether they had left any thing 
behind them. They perceived him, and fancied he 
repented refusing to join with them, and had come 
to do it now ; wherefore some of them returned 
back to the sloop, to speak to him, but they found 
him of the same opinion he was in before. How¬ 
ever, he wheedled them into so much good humour, 
that they told him he might have his sloop again, in 
which, indeed, they had left nothing except an old 
main-sail, an old fore-sail, four small pieces of Irish 
beef, in an old beef barrel, and about twenty bis¬ 
cuits, with a broken bucket which was used to draw 
water in, telling him that he and the rest must not 
go on board till they had sailed. 

Greenway swam ashore again to give notice to 
his brothers in distress, of what had passed. The 
same afternoon Bunch with several others went on 
shore, carrying with them six bottles of wine and 
some biscuits. Whether this was done to tempt 
Greenway again, or no, is hard to say ; for though 
they talked to him a great deal, they drank all the 
wine themselves to the last bottle, and then gave 
each of the poor creatures a glass a-piece, with a bit 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


237 

of biscuit, and immediately after fell to beating them, 
and so went on board. 

While they were on shore, there came in a tur- 
tler which belonged to one Thomas Bennet, of Pro¬ 
vidence, whereof one Benjamin Hutchins was mas¬ 
ter. They soon laid hold of her, for she sailed 
excellently well. Hutchins was reputed an extra¬ 
ordinary good pilot among those islands; wherefore 
they tempted him to engage with them ; at first he 
refused, but rather than be marooned, he afterwards 
consented. 

It was now the 9th of October, and they were just 
preparing to sail, when they sent on shore, ordering 
the cundemned malefactors to come on board Green- 
way’s sloop, the Lancaster. They did so in the lit¬ 
tle boat they went on shore in, by the help of the 
same paddle. They found several of the pirates 
there, who told them that they gave them that sloop 
to return to Providence, though they let them have 
no more stores, than what were named before. They 
bade them take the foresail, and bend it for a jib, 
and furl it close down to the bowsprit, and to furl 
the mainsail close up to the boom. They did as 
they were ordered, for they knew there was no dis¬ 
puting whether it was right or wrong. 

Soon after, another detachment came on board, 
among whom were Bunch and Dennis Mackarthy, 
who being either mad or drunk, fell upon them, 
beating them, and cutting the rigging and sails to 
pieces with their cutlasses, and commanding them 
not to sail, till they should hear from them again, 
threatening if they did, they would put them all to 
death, if ever they met them again ; and so they 
went off, carrying with them the boat, which they 
sent them first ashore in, and sailed away. 

They left them in this miserable condition, with¬ 
out tackle to go their voyage, and without a boat to 
get on shore, and having nothing in view but to 


238 


JOHN AUGUF AND OTHERS. 


perish for want; but as self preservation put them 
upon exerting themselves, in order to get out of this 
deplorable state, they began to rummage and search 
the vessel through every hole and corner, to see il 
nothing was left which might be of use to them ; 
and it happened by chance that they found an old 
hatchet, with which they cut some sticks sharp to 
serve for marling-spikes. They also cut out several 
other things, to serve instead of such tools as are 
absolutely necessary on board a ship. 

When they had proceeded thus far, every man 
began to work as hard as he could; they cut a piece 
of cable, which they strung into rope yarns, and fell 
to mending their sails with all possible expedition; 
they also made a kind of fishing lines of rope yarns, 
and bent some nails crooked to serve for hooks; but 
as they were destitute of a boat, as well for the use 
of fishing as for going on shore, they resolved to 
make a bark log, that is, to lay two or three logs 
together, and lash them close, upon which two or 
three men may sit very safely in smooth water. 

As soon as this was done, some hands went on 
shore, upon one of the logs (for they made two of 
them) who employed themselves in cutting wild 
cabbage, gathering berries, and a fruit which the 
seamen call prickly pears, for food, while some 
others went a fishing upon another. Those who 
went ashore also carried the old bucket with them, 
so that whilst some were busy in gathering things 
to serve for provision, one hand was constantly 
employed in bringing fresh water aboard in the 
bucket, which was tedious work, considering how 
little could be brought at a time, and that the sloop 
lay near a mile from the shore. 

When they had employed themselves thus, for 
about four or five days, they brought their sails and 
tackle into such order, having also a little water, 
cabbage and other things on board, that they thought 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 139 

it was tirr e to venture to sail. Accordingly they 
weighed tneir anchor, and setting all the sail they 
had, got out to the harbour’s mouth, when to their 
great terror and surprise, they saw the pirates com¬ 
ing in again. 

They were much frightened at this unexpected 
return, because of the threatenings they had used 
to them at parting, not to sail without further or¬ 
ders ; wherefore, they tacked about, and ran as close 
in to the shore as they could, then throwing out their 
bark logs, they all put themselves upon them, and 
made to land, as fast as they could ; but before they 
quite reached it, the pirates got so near that they 
fired at them, but were too far to do execution. 
However, they pursued them ashore ; the unhappy 
exiles immediately took to the woods, and for greater 
security climbed up some trees, whose branches 
were very thick, and by that means concealed them¬ 
selves. The pirates not finding them, soon returned 
to their boat, and rowed on board the deserted sloop, 
whose mast and bowsprit they cut away, and tow¬ 
ing into deep water, sunk her; after which, they 
made again for shore, thinking that the fugitives 
would have been out of their lurking holes, and that 
they should surprise them ; but they continued still 
on the tops of the trees and saw all that passed, and 
> therefore thought it safest to keep their posts. 

The pirates not finding them, returned to their 
vessels, and weighing their anchors, set sail, steer¬ 
ing eastward. In the mean time, the poor fellows 
were in despair, for seeing their vessel sunk, they 
had scarce any hopes left of escaping the danger of 
perishing upon that uninhabited island, where they 
lived eight days, feeding upon berries, and shell-fish, 
such as cockles and perriwinkles, sometimes catch¬ 
ing a stingrey, a fish resembling mead or thornback, 
which coming into shoal water, they could wade 
near *hem, and by the help of a stick sharpened at 



JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


240 

the end, which they did by rubbing it against the 
rocks, (for they had not a knife left among them) 
they stuck them as if it had been with a spear. 

It must be observed, that they had no means of 
striking a fire, and therefore their way of dressing 
this fish was, by dipping it in salt water, then laying 
it in the sun, till it became both hard and dry, and 
then they ate it. 

After passing eight days in this manner, the pirates 
returned, and saw the poor fugitives ashore, who ac¬ 
cording to custom made to the woods; but their 
hearts began to relent toward? them, and sending 
ashore, they ordered a man to go into the woods 
single, to call out to them, and promise them upon 
their honour, if they would appear, that they would 
give them victuals and dunk, and not use them ill 
any more. 

These promises, and the hunger which pinched 
them, tempted them to come forth, and accordingly 
they went on board, and they were as good as their 
word, for they gave them as much beef and biscuit 
as they could eat, during two or three days they 
were on board, but would not give them a bit to 
carry on shore. 

There was on board one George Redding, an in¬ 
habitant of Providence, who was taken out of the 
turtle sloop, and who was a forced man. Being an 
acquaintance of Richard Turnley, and knowing that 
he was resolved to go shore again, rather than en¬ 
gage with the pirates, and hearing him say, that 
they could find food to keep them alive, if they had 
but lire to dress it, privately gave him a tinder box, 
with materials in it for striking fire, which, in his cir¬ 
cumstances, was a greater present than gold or 
jewels. Soon after, the pirates put the question 
to them, whether they would engage, or be put 
ashore ? And they all agreed upon the latter : upon 
which a debate arose among the pirates, whether 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


241 


they should comply with their request or not; and 
at length it was agreed, that Greenway and the 
other two masters should be kept whether they 
would or no ; and the rest, being five in number, 
should, as the pirates expressed it, have a second 
refreshment on the varieties of the island. 

Accordingly Richard Turnley, James Carr, Tho 
mas Rich, John Cox, and John Taylor, were a 
second time marooned, and the pirates, as soon as 
they landed them, sailed off, steering eastward, till 
they came to an island called Pudden Point, near 
Long-Island, in lat. 24 degrees, where they cleaned 
their vessels. 

In the mean time, Turnley and his companions 
made a much better shift than they had done before, 
his friend Redding’s present being of infinite use to 
them, for they constantly kept a good fire, with 
which they broiled their fish. There were plenty 
of land crabs and snakes on the island, which they 
could eat when they were dressed. Thus they 
passed fourteen days; at the end of which the 
pirates made them another visit, and they accord¬ 
ing to custom made for the woods, thinking that the 
reason of their return must be, in order to force 
them to serve amongst them. But here they were 
mistaken, for the anger of these fellows being over, 
they began to pity them; but going ashore, and 
not finding them, they knew they were hid for 
fear. Nevertheless, they left upon the shore, where 
they knew they would come, some stores which 
they intended in this fit of good humour to present 
them with. 

The poor islanders had got to their retreat, the 
tops of the trees, and saw the pirates go off; upon 
which they ventured down, and going to the water 
side, were agreeably surprised to find a small cask 
of flour, of between twenty and thirty pounds, about 
a bushel of salt, two bottles of gun powder, several 
21 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


242 

bullets, besides a quantity of small shot, with a 
couple of muskets, a very good axe, and also a pot 
and a pan, and three dogs, which they took in the 
turtle sloop ; which dogs are bred to hunting, and 
generally the sloops which go turtling, carry some 
of them, as they are very useful in tracing out the 
wild hogs. Besides all these, there were a dozen 
horn handled knives, of that sort which are usually 
carried to Guinea. 

They carried all things into the woods, to that 
part where they had their fresh water, and where 
they usually kept, and immediately went to work 
with their axe ; some cutting down bows, and mak¬ 
ing poles, so that four of them were employed in 
building a hut, while Richard Turnley taking the 
dogs and a gun, went a hunting, he understanding 
that sport very well. He had not been gone long 
before he killed a large boar, which he brought 
home to his companions, who fell to cutting it up, 
and some they dressed for their dinner, and the rest 
they salted, for another time. 

Thus they lived, as they thought, very happy in 
respect to their former condition ; but after a few 
days, the pirates made them another visit, for they 
wanted to fill some casks’with water. It happened 
when they came in, that Turnley was gone a hunt¬ 
ing, and the rest all busy at work, so that they did 
not see them, till they came into the wood upon 
them. Seeing the hut, one of them in wantonness 
set it on fire, and it was burnt to the ground ; and 
they appeared inclined to do mischief, when Richard 
Turnley, knowing nothing of the matter, happened 
to return from hunting, with a fine hog upon his 
back, as much as he could carry. He was imme¬ 
diately surrounded by the pirates, who seized upon 
the fresh meat, which seemed to put them into bet¬ 
ter humour. They made Richard Cox carry it down 
to their boat, and when he had done, they gave him 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


243 

a >ottle of rum to carry back to his companions to 
drink their healths, telling him, that they might get 
home if they could, or if they stayed there, they 
would never trouble them any more. 

They were, indeed as good as their word, for 
sailing away immediately, they made for Long- 
Island, and coming up toward the salt ponds there, 
they saw at a distance in the harbour, three vessels 
at an anchor, and supposing them to be either Ber¬ 
muda or New-York sloops, lying there to take in 
salt, they bore down upon them with all the sail . 
they could make, expecting a good booty. The turtle 
sloop taken from Benjamin Hutchins, was by much 
the best sailer ; however, it was almost dark before 
she came up with them, and then coming close 
along side of one of them, she gave a broadside, with 
a design to board the next minute, but received 
such a volley of small shot in return, as killed and 
wounded a great many of the pirates, and the rest, 
in great surprise and fright, jumped overboard, to 
save themselves by swimming ashore. 

The truth is, these sloops proved to be Spanish pri¬ 
vateers, who observing the pirates to bear down upon 
them, prepared themselves for action. The com¬ 
mander in chief of these three privateers was one 
who was called by the name of Turn Joe, because he 
had once privateered on the English side. He had also 
been a pirate, and now acted by virtue of a commis¬ 
sion from a Spanish governor. He was by birth an 
Irishman, a bold enterprising fellow, and was after¬ 
wards killed in an engagement with one John Bon- 
navee captain of a privateer belonging to Jamaica. 

But to return to our story. The sloop was taken, 
and on board her was found, desperately wounded, 
Phineas Bunch, who was the captain. By and by a 
second of the pirate sloops came up; she heard the 
volley, and supposed it to be fired by Bunch, when he 
boarded one of the sloops ; she came also along side 


244 JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 

of one of the Spaniards, and received the welcome 
that was given to Bunch, and submitted as soon. A 
little after, came up the third, which was taken with 
the same ease, and in the same manner, as many 
of the pirates as could swim, jumping overboard to 
save themselves on shore, there not being a man lost 
on the side of the Spaniards. 

The next day Turn Joe asked them many questions, 
and finding out that several amongst them had been 
forced men, he with the consent of the other Spa¬ 
nish officers, ordered all the goods to be taken out of 
a Spanish launch, and putting some of the wounded 
pirates into the said launch, with some provision, 
water, and other liquors, gave it to the forced men, 
to carry them to Providence. 

Accordingly George Redding, Thomas Betty, 
Matthew Betty, and Benjamin Hutchins, with some 
others, set sail, and in eight-and-forty hours arrived 
in the harbour of Providence. They went on shore 
immediately, and acquainted the governor with 
every thing that had passed, from the time of their 
setting out; informing him, that Phineas Bunch, 
who was one of the chief authors of all the mischief, 
was on board the launch. The governor, with 
some others, went and examined him, and he con¬ 
fessed all, wherefore there was no occasion for a 
trial; and as he had been pardoned before, and it 
was necessary to make some speedy example, it 
was resolved that he should be executed the next 
day, but it was prevented by his dying that night of 
his wounds. 

They also informed the goyernor of the condition 
of Turnley, Carr, and the rest, who were marooned 
by the pirates upon Green Key Island ; upon which 
the governor sent for one John Sims, a mulatto man, 
who had a two-mast boat in the harbour of Provi¬ 
dence, very fit for sailing ; and putting some provi¬ 
sions into her, ordered him to get five or six hands, 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. # 245 

and to sail for Green Key, in order to bring off the 
five men there marooned. 

Sims accordingly made the best of his way, and 
sailing out in the morning, arrived at Green Key 
the next day towards evening. The poor people 
on shore saw them, and supposing them to be some 
of the pirates returned, thought it best to take to 
the woods and hide, not knowing what humour 
they might be in now. Sims and his ship-mates 
carried some provision on shore, not knowing but 
they might want, and searched about, calling out to 
them by their names. After wandering about some 
time, they came to the place where the fire was 
constantly kept; on perceiving which, they fancied 
they must be thereabouts, and that it would be best 
to wait for them there, and accordingly they sat 
down, laying the provisions near them. Turnley, 
who had climbed to the top of a tree just by, saw 
them, and observed their motions, and fancied they 
were no enemies who were bringing them provi¬ 
sions, and looking more earnestly, he knew Sims, 
the mulatto, whom he was very well acquainted 
with at Providence ; upon which he called him, who 
desired him to come down, telling him the com¬ 
fortable news, that he was come to the relief of him 
and his companions. Turnley made what haste he 
could to the bottom, and as soon as he was down, 
summoned his comrades, who had climbed to the 
top of some neighbouring trees, being in haste to 
communicate the glad tidings to them. Being all 
together, the mulatto related to them the history 
of what had happened to the pirates. 

That night they supped comfortably together 
upon the provision brought ashore ; but so strange 
an effect has joy, that scarce one of them slept a 
wink that night, as they declared. The next day 
they agreed to go a hunting, in order to get some¬ 
thing fresh to carry off with them, and were so 


JOHN AUGUR AN!) OTHERS. 


246 

successful, that they killed three fine hogs. When 
they returned, they made the best of their way on 
board, carrying with them all their utensils, and set 
sail for Providence, whither they arrived in three 
days; it being now just seven weeks from the time 
of their being first set on shore by the pirates. 

The governor, in the mean time, was fitting out a 
sloop to send to Long-Island, in order to take those 
pirates who had saved themselves near the salt 
ponds there, which sloop was now ready to sail, and 
put under the command of Benjamin Horny gold. 
Turnley and his companions embarked on board of 
her, and care was taken to get as many men as 
they could, who were entire strangers to the pirates. 

When they arrived at the said island, they run in 
pretty near the shore, keeping but few hands on 
deck, that it might look like a trading vessel, and 
those men that were quite unknown to the pirates. 

The pirates seeing them, came only two or three 
of them near the shore, the rest lying in ambush, 
not without hopes of finding an opportunity to seize 
the sloop, which sent her boat out towards the 
shore, with orders to lay off at a little distance, as if 
she was afraid. Those in ambush seeing the boat 
so near, had not patience to stay any longer, but 
flocked to the water side, calling out to them to 
come on shore, and help them, for they were poor 
shipwrecked men, perishing for want. Upon which 
the boat rowed back again to the sloop. 

Upon second thoughts they sent her off again 
with two bottles of wine, a bottle of rum, and some 
biscuit, and sent another man, who was a stranger 
to those ashore, with orders to pass for master of 
the vessel. As soon as they approached them, the 
pirates called to them as before, begging them, for 
God’s sake to come on shore ; they did so, and gave 
them the biscuit, wine, and rum, which he said he 
brought ashore on purpose to comfort them, because 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


247 

liis men told him they were cast away. They were 
very inquisitive to know where he was bound. He 
told them, to New-York, and that he came in there 
to take in salt. They earnestly entreated him to 
take them on board, and carry them as passengers 
to New-York; they being about sixteen in number, 
he answered, he was afraid he had not provision 
sufficient for so great a number ; but that he would 
go on board and overhaul his provision, and if they 
pleased, some of them might go with him, and see 
how his stock stood; that at least he would carry 
some of them, and leave some refreshment for the 
rest, till they could be succoured another way, but 
that he hoped they would make him some recom¬ 
pense when they should arrive at New-York. 

They seemed wonderfully pleased with his pro¬ 
posal, and promised to make him ample satisfaction 
for all the charges he should be at, pretending to 
have good friends and considerable effects in dif¬ 
ferent parts of America. Accordingly he took seve¬ 
ral of them with him in the boat, and as soon as 
they got on board he invited them into the cabin, 
where, to their surprise, they saw Benjamin Horny- 
gold, formerly a brother pirate; but what astonished 
them more, was to see Richard Turnley, whom they 
had lately marooned upon Green Key. They were 
immediately surrounded by several with pistols in 
their hands, and clapped in irons. 

As soon as this was over, the boat went on shore 
again, and those in the boat told the pirates, that the 
captain would venture to carry them with what pro¬ 
vision he had; at which they appeared much re¬ 
joiced, and so the rest were brought on board, and 
without much trouble clapped in irons, as well as 
their companions. 

The sloop had nothing more to do, and therefore 
set sail, and reaching Providence, delivered the pi¬ 
rates all prisoners into the fort. A Court of Admi- 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


248 

ralty was immediately called, and they were all 
tried, and nine received sentence of death, viz. 
John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Mackar- 
thy, William Dowling, William Lewis, Thomas Mor¬ 
ris, George Bendall, William Ling, and George 
Rounsivel, which last was finally reprieved and par¬ 
doned. The other seven were acquitted, it appear¬ 
ing that they were forced. 

The following is the sentence pronounced upon 
the prisoners:— 


THE COURT having duly considered of the evi¬ 
dence which hath been given both for and against 
you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, 
Dennis Mackarthy, William Dowling, William Lew¬ 
is, Thomas Morris, George Bendall, William Ling, 
and George Rounsivel; and having also debated the 
several circumstances of the cases, it is adjudged, 
that you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, 
Dennis Mackarthy, William Dowling, William Lew¬ 
is, Thomas Morris, George Bendall, William Ling, 
and George Rounsivel, are guilty of the mutiny, 
felony, arid piracy, wherewith you and every of you 
stand accused. And the Court doth accordingly 
pass sentence, that you the said John Augur, Wil¬ 
liam Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, William Dow¬ 
ling, William Lewis, Thomas Morris, George Ben¬ 
dall, William Ling, and George Rounsivel, be car¬ 
ried to prison from whence you came, and from 
thence to the place of execution, where you are to 
be hanged by the neck till you shall be dead , dead , 
dead; and God have mercy on your souls. Given 
under our hands this 10th day of December, A. D. 


1718. (Signed) 

Woodes Rogers , 
William Fairfax , 
Robert Beauchamp, 
Thomas Walker, 


Wingate Gale, 
Nathaniel Taylor, 
Josias Burgiss, 
Peter Courant. 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


24 $ 


After sentence was passed upon the prisone?'s 
the governor, as president of the court, appointe( 
their execution to be on Friday next, the 12th inst 
at 10 o’clock in the morning. 

Whereupon the prisoners prayed for longer time 
to repent and prepare for death; but the governor 
told them, that from the time of their being appre¬ 
hended, they ought to have accounted themselves 
as condemned by the laws of all nations, which was 
only sealed now, and that the securing them hither¬ 
to, and the favour that the Court had allowed them 
in making as long a defence as they could, wholly 
took up that time which the affairs of the settle¬ 
ment required in working at the fortifications; be¬ 
sides the fatigue thereby occasioned to the whole 
garrison in the necessary guards, set over them by 
the want of a gaol, and the garrison having been 
very much reduced by sickness and death since his 
arrival; also, that he was obliged to employ all his 
people to assist in mounting the great guns, and in 
finishing the present works, with all possible des¬ 
patch, on account of the expected war with Spain; 
and there being many more pirates amongst these 
islands, and this place left destitute of all relief from 
any man of war or station ship, joined to other rea¬ 
sons, too long to enumerate in court, he thought 
himself indispensably obliged, for the welfare of 
the settlement, to give them no longer time. 

The prisoners were then ordered to the place of 
their imprisonment in the fort, where leave was 
given them to send for any persons to read and 
pray with them. 

On Friday morning each of the prisoners was 
called in private, to know if they had any load upon 
their spirits, for actions committed as yet unknown 
to the world, the declaring of which was absolutely 
required to prepare themselves for a fit repentance; 
but they each refused to declare any thing, as well 


250 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


as making known to the governor, if they knew oi 
any conspiracy against the government. 

Wherefore, about 10 o’clock, the prisoners were 
released from their irons, and committed to the 
charge and care of Thomas Robinson, Esq. com¬ 
missioned Provost Marshal for the day, who, accord¬ 
ing to custom in such cases, pinioned them, &c. and 
ordered the guards appointed to assist him, to lead 
them to the top of the rampart, fronting the sea, 
which was well guarded by the governor’s soldiers 
and people, to the number of about 100. At the 
prisoners’ request, several select prayers and psalms 
were read, in which all present joined. When the 
service was ended, orders were given to the Mar¬ 
shal, and he conducted the prisoners down a ladder, 
provided on purpose, to the foot of the wall, where 
a gallows was erected, and a black flag hoisted 
thereon, and under it a stage, supported by three 
butts, on which they ascended by another ladder, 
where the hangman fastened the cords. They had 
three-quarters of an hour allowed under the gal¬ 
lows, which was spent by them in singing psalms, 
and some exhortations to their old consorts, and the 
other spectators, who got as near to the foot of the 
gallows as the marshal’s guard would suffer them. 
When the marshal was ordered to make ready, and 
all the prisoners expected the launch, the governor 
thought fit to order George Rounsivel to be untied, 
and when brought off the stage, the butts having 
ropes about them, were hauled away; upon which, 
the stage fell, and the prisoners were suspended. 

A Short Account of the Prisoners Executed. 

First, John Augur, being about 40 years of age, 
had been a noted shipmaster at Jamaica, and since 
among the pirates; but on his accepting of His Ma¬ 
jesty’s act of grace, and recommendations to the 


JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


251 


governor, he was, notwithstanding, entrusted with 
a good vessel.and cargo, in which, betraying his 
trust, and knowing himself guilty of the indictment, 
he all along appeared very penitent, and neither 
washed, shaved, or shifted his old clothes, when car¬ 
ried to be executed; and when he had a small glass 
of wine given him on the rampart, drank it with 
wishes for the good success of the Bahama Islands, 
and the governor. 

The second, William Cunningham, aged 45, had 
been gunner with Thatch, the pirate, who, being 
also conscious of his own guilt, was seemingly peni¬ 
tent, and behaved himself as such. 

The third, Dennis Mackarthy, aged 28, had also 
been formerly a pirate, but accepted of the king’s 
act of grace ; and the governor had made him an 
ensign of the militia, being recommended as a sober, 
discreet person, which commission he had at the 
time of his joining the pirates, which very much 
aggravated his other crimes. During his imprison¬ 
ment, he behaved himself tolerably well; but when 
he thought he was to die, and the morning came, 
without his expected reprieve, he shifted his clothes, 
and wore long blue ribands at his neck, wrists, 
knees, and cap; and when on the rampart, looked 
cheerfully round him, saying, He knew the time 
when there were many brave fellows on the island , 
who would not have suffered him to die like a dog; 
and at the same time pulled off his shoes, kicking 
them over the parapet of the fort, saying, He had 
promised not to die with his shoes on; so descended 
the fort wall, and ascended the stage, with the agili ¬ 
ty and address of a prize-fighter. When mounted, 
he exhorted the people, who were at the foot of the 
walls, to have compassion on him; but, however 
willing, they saw too much power over their heads 
to attempt any thing in his favour. 



JOHN AUGUR AND OTHERS. 


252 

The fourth, William Dowling, about 24 years of 
age, had been a considerable time *imong the pi¬ 
rates, of a wicked life, which His Majesty’s act of 
grace did not reform. His behaviour was very loose 
on the stage, and after his death, some of his ac¬ 
quaintance declared, he had confessed to them, thal 
he had murdered his mother before he left Ireland, 

The fifth, William Lewis, aged about 34 years, as 
he had been a hardy pirate and prize-fighter, affected 
an unconcern at death; but heartily desired liquors 
to drink with his fellow-sufferers on the stage, and 
with the standers by. 

The sixth, Thomas Morris, aged about 22, had 
been a very incorrigible youth and pirate, and 
seemed to have very little anxiety of mind by his 
frequent smiles when at the bar. Being dressed 
with red ribands, as Mackarthy was with blue, he 
said, going over the ramparts, We have a new go¬ 
vernor, but a harsh one; and a little before he was 
turned off, said aloud, he might have been a greater 
plague to these islands, and now he wished he had 
been so. 

The seventh, George Bendall, aged IS, though 
he said, he had never been a pirate before, yet he had 
all the villanous inclinations the most profligate 
youth could be infected with. His behaviour was 
sullen. 

The eighth, William Ling, aged about 30, not 
taken notice of before the last attempt, behaved 
himself as became a true penitent, and was not 
hevird to say any thing besides replying to Lewis, 
when he demanded wine to drink, that water was 
more suitable to them at that time. 

It was observed that there were but few (besides 
the governor’s adherents) among the spectators, 
who had not deserved the same fate, but pardoned 
by His Majesty’s act of grace. 


0 


CORRECT ACCOUNT 


OF THE 

LATE PIRACIES 

COMMITTED IN THE WEST-INDIES; 


AND 

THE EXPEDITION OF 


COMMODORE PORTER 


THE public mind has Leen much agitated by the 
depredations of these enemies of all laws, human 
and divine. It is strange, that in this enlightened 
age, when the principles of civil liberty are weii 
understood, and when the doctrines of the rignts of 
man are gaining so many adherents both in this 
country and in Europe, that there should be found 
men so lost to every good principle, as to pursue 
such a predatory warfare against defenceless peo¬ 
ple ; and with the slightest pretext, butcher those 
unfortunate fellow creatures who may fall in their 
way. And it is no less astonishing, as piracy does 
exist, that all civilized governments have not com¬ 
bined to suppress this horrid practice, and teach 
these refractory and deluded men, that the arm of 
justice is not shortened, nor the rulers of the earth 
asleep. 

Our government has taken a forward step to ar¬ 
rest these free-booters in their blood-thirsty pro¬ 
tects, and no doubt the expedition which was under 
the command of that gallant officer, Commodore 
Porter, has done much towards putting down this 
nefarious practice in the West-India seas. 


PIRACIES, «Ac 


MUTINY ON BOARD THE BRITISH SHIP KATE. 


The crew, 8 in number, of the ship Kate, Captain 
Purdy, landed in the island of Guadaloupe, on the 
24th of January, 1821. They slept on the beach 
that night, and next morning a planter in the neigh¬ 
bourhood came to them, and brought them his 
house. Their story was uniform, all said th^ be¬ 
longed to the American ship Retrieve, Capt. Jacob 
Hawes, belonging to Messrs. Suydam & Wyckoff, 
merchants, of New-York ; that after 6 weeks boist¬ 
erous weather, not being able to keep the ship 
free, she being very leaky, the Captain had given 
orders to get the boat in readiness, and that they 
were doing it, and getting into the boat about 10 
o’clock at night, when the Captain’s son, about 10 
years old, fell overboard in trying to get into the 
boat, and that the Captain threw himself into the 
sea to save him, but both perished, and the ship 
went down; that after one night and two days in 
the boat, they reached the beach near the Mole, 
vitli great hazard of their lives. 

They were afterwards escorted to Point Petre, 
where they were examined by the Judge, and per¬ 
sisted in the same story; except one French lad, 
who privately disclosed the truth to the attorney 
general. 





PIRACIES IN THE 


250 

They had with them all their baggage, and con¬ 
siderable money. Among the baggage was a Bible, 
with the label, “ Presented by the Merchants’ Sea¬ 
men Auxiliary Bible Society, to the ship Kate, of 
London—Gravesend, 11th May, 1818.” This, the 
mate, Thomas Murdock, said was given to him by a 
fellow lodger in New-York. The Judge, however, 
availed himself of this circumstance to interrogate 
them a second time. Calling on Murdock, he said— 
“ There is the Bible belonging to the ship Kate, of 
London, Capt. George Purdy, and upon that very 
same Bible you swear to tell the truth, and nothing 
but the truth.” Murdock, much embarrassed, said 
in broken words, that he was not accustomed to 
swear on the Bible, and resisted some time, when 
the Judge observed to him, that if he would not an¬ 
swer to the questions, he would pronounce him guilty 
immediately; for to refuse answering the questions 
of the Court was declaring himself guilty. Murdock 
then kissed the Bible. “ Since I have taken an oath, 
(said he,) on the Bible, I will speak the truth,” and 
related the real story, in substance— 

“That they belonged to the ship Kate, of London, 
Capt. George Purdy, which ship had been chartered 
m August last, at Halifax, for a voyage to Berbice 
and back to Halifax. The ship took a cargo of fish, 
beef, and some lumber. They reached Berbice, 
where the cargo was sold for cash. The proceeds 
were put on board in two boxes iron hooped, con¬ 
taining 5600 dollars. The ship sailed for Halifax in 
ballast. The mate had been discharged at Berbice, 
after having some quarrel with the Captain. Six 
weeks after sailing, finding constant head winds, and 
in want of provisions, the water nearly consumed, 
the crew asked the Captain what he intended to do— 
the Captain told them, he had still some coffee which 
he would give them for their support, and that he 
would try to get to Bermuda; but after 24 hours, 


WEST-INDIES. 


257 

the winds against them, they tried for New-York, but 
without success. On the morning of the 8th of Ja¬ 
nuary, three of the crew went and seized the Cap¬ 
tain, as he was walking on the deck, and tied him. 
They said that he and those that lived in the cabin, 
must either jump overboard, or go into the jolly 
boat along side. They then embarked the Captain, 
who wished and asked to go into the cabin for his 
cloak and boots, but he was not allowed. They 
begged earnestly for a compass ; his lady also went 
on her knees and begged for sf compass, but this 
was refused also. His lady with their two children, 
one a boy two years old, the other a girl four years 
old, Mr. Robert Meredith, a passenger, and a mu¬ 
latto boy named William, steward in the cabin, 
were then forced into the boat, with 20 lbs. of bread, 
two trunks of the Captain’s and Mr. Meredith’s 
trunks and two oars, were sent adrift. The crew 
were ignorant of their then latitude. After ten 
days sailing for the West-Indies, Deseada was the 
first land he made. They had rigged the long boat 
as a sloop, put in their baggage and money, which 
had been equally divided among them, excepting 
the two lads, who had a share between them, when 
two of the crew went below and scuttled the ship.” 

Afterwards the rest of the crew confessed their 
crime. About 1400 dollars were found and lodged 
at the Register’s office—Murdock said he buried in 
the yard of the tavern at the Mole 450 dollars, but 
the money could not be found. He had an Ame¬ 
rican protection, said he was born in New-Bruns- 
wick, (N. J.) and had papers from the grand and 
private lodges of New-York. The cook was a ne¬ 
gro, from Philadelphia, from whence he went in a 
schooner to Halifax; his name was Philip Fisher; 
he stuttered. One was a French lad ; one a Lon¬ 
don boy, one Welshman, an Irishman, and two 
Scotchmen. 


22 * 




258 


PIRACIES IN THE 


WST OF ATROCIOUS PIRACIES AND BARBARITIES. 


BOSTON, NOV. 6 , 1821. 

The brig Cobbessecontee, Capt. Jackson, arrived 
yesterday from the Havana, sailed thence on the 
morning of the 8th ult. and on the evening of the 
same day, about four miles from the Moro, was 
brought to by a piratical sloop, containing about 30 
men. A boat from her, with ten men, came along 
side, and soon after they got on board commenced 
plundering. They took nearly all the clothing from 
the Captain and mate—all the cooking utensils and 
spare rigging—unrove part of the running rigging— 
cut the small cable—broke the compasses—cut the 
mast’s coats to pieces—took from the Captain his 
watch and four boxes cigars—and from the cargo 
three bales cochineal and six boxes cigars. They 
beat the mate unmercifully, and hung him up by the 
neck under the maintop. They also beat the Cap¬ 
tain severely—broke a large broad sword across 
his back, and ran a long knife through his thigh, so 
that he almost bled to death. Capt. Jackson saw 
the sloop at Regia the day before. 

Capt. Jackson informs us, and we have also been 
informed by other persons from the Havana, that 
this system of Piracy is openly countenanced by 
some of the inhabitants of that place—who say that 
it is a retaliation on the Americans for interfering 
against the Slave Trade, and for allowing Patriot 
privateers to refit in their ports. The pirates, 
therefore, receiving such countenance, grow more 
daring—and increase in number from the success 
which has attended this new mode of filling their 
pockets. 


WEST-TNDIES. 


‘259 

Capt. Bugnon, who arrived yesterday from Charles¬ 
ton, spoke on the 2d inst. off the S. Shoal of Nan¬ 
tucket, the brig Three Partners, from Jamaica for 
St. John—had been robbed, off Cape Antonio, by 
a piratical vessel, of about 35 tons, and 17 men, of 
clothing, watches, &c. and the captain was hung up 
by the neck to the fore-yard arm, till he was almost 
dead. 

Capt. Bourn, who arrived yesterday, from Cape 
Haytien, spoke on the 26th ult. lat. 33, Ion. 78, brig 
Sea Lion, 36 days from Cape Haytien for Belfast, 
Ireland, which had been plundered by a pirate in 
the Gulf. 

The brig Harriet, Capt. Dimond, from St. Jago de 
Cuba for Baltimore, arrived at Havana on the 16th 
ult. haying been robbed of all her cargo of sugar, 
and $4000 in specie, off Cape Antonio, by a boat with 
15 men, having two schooners in co. Capt. D. was 
hung up by the neck, and remained senseless for 
some time after he was taken down. 

The Dutch brig Mercury, 77 days from Marseilles, 
arrived at Havana on the 16th ult. after having been 
robbed of $10,000 worth of her cargo, by a piratical 
schooner and boat, off Cape Antonio. 

Fortunately a U. S. vessel has arrived at the scene 
of these daring robberies, and has already protected 
two fleets. It is to be hoped some of the villains 
who have so long pi*eyed with impunity on mercan¬ 
tile property, and been guilty of the most savage 
acts, will speedily be caught and brought to justice. 


260 


PIRACIES IN THE 


U. S. BRIG SPARK. 


A letter from a gentleman belonging to this vessel , 
dated St. Barts , Nov. 3, 1821, says — 

“We arrived here, after a rather rough passage, 
in eighteen days from Boston, all well. We expect 
to sail again in two or three days. We found here 
the piratical ship which robbed the Orleans Packet. 
She is now in possession of the Swedish govern¬ 
ment. She came into their possession in*the fol¬ 
lowing manner :—The crew landed her cargo on a 
small island near this, from whence it was taken by 
a schooner to St. Thomas ;—they then run the ship 
into Five Island Harbour, where all the crew, ex 
cept two men, deserted her.—The government 
hearing of her being there, sent a guard and took 
possession of her, brought her into this harbour, and 
confined the two men found in her as pirates.—It is 
said, Capt. Elton has requested the Governor to al 
low him to take them to the United States for trial 
This piratical ship was originally the U. S. brig Pro¬ 
metheus, which was condemned two years since, 
and was then sold.” 

A letter from on board the Hornet, dated at Cape 
Maise, 31st. October, says, “ The pirate which we 
took yesterday mounted two long four pounders, 
and her crew consisted of twenty gallows-looking 
scoundrels.”—After the capture of the Hornet, spoke 
three merchant brigs, which probably would have 
fallen into the hands of the pirates ;—and were very 
happy at their escape. 


WEST-INDIES. 


261 


Piratical Forts. —Capt. Sisson, from Havana, re 
ports, that seventy of the Pirates belonging to the 
vessels captured and destroyed by the Enterprize, 
have erected two forts on Cape Antonio, for their 
defence. 

i 


From the American Monthly Magazine, of Feb. 1824. 

PIRACY. 


In the early part of June I sailed from Philadel¬ 
phia in the schooner Mary, on a voyage to New-Or- 
leans. My principal object in going round by sea 
was the restoration of my health, which had been 
for many months declining. Having some friends 
in New-Orleans whose commercial operations were 
conducted on an extensive scale, I was charged 
with the care of several sums of money in gold and 
silver, amounting altogether to nearly eighteen 
thousand dollars. This I communicated to the cap¬ 
tain, and we concluded to secure it in the best man¬ 
ner our circumstances would admit. A plank was 
accordingly taken off the ribs of the schooner in my 
own cabin, and the money being deposited in the 
vacancy, the plank was nailed down in its original 
place, and the seams filled and tarred over. Being 
thus relieved from any apprehension that the money 
would be found upon us in case of an attack from 
pirates, my mind was somewhat easier. What other 
articles of value I could conveniently carry about 
with me, I did so. I had also brought a quantity of 
bank notes to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars. 
Part of these I caused to be carefully sewed in the 
left lappel of my coat, supposing that in case of my 
being lost at sea, my coat, should my body be found, 




2G2 


PIRACIES IN THE 


would still contain the most valuable of my effects 
The balance was carefully quilted into my blacb 
silk cravat. 

Our grew consisted of the Captain and four men, 
with a supply of live stock for the voyage, and a 
Newfoundland dog, valuable for his fidelity and sa¬ 
gacity. He had once saved his master from a 
watery grave, when he had been stunned and 
knocked overboard by the sudden shifting of the 
boom. I was the only passenger on board. Our 
voyage at first was prosperous, and time went on 
rapidly. I felt my strength increase the longer I 
was at sea, and when we arrived off the southern 
coast of Florida, my feelings were like those of ano ¬ 
ther man. 

It was towards the evening of the fourteenth day, 
two hours before sun-set, that we espied a sail astern 
of us. As twilight came, it neared us with astonish¬ 
ing rapidity. Night closed, and all around was im¬ 
penetrable darkness. Now and then a gentle wave 
would break against our bow and sparkle for a mo¬ 
ment, and at a distance behind us, we could see the 
uneven glow of light, occasioned by the foaming of 
the strange vessel. The breeze that filled our can¬ 
vass was gentle, though it was fresh. 

We coursed our way steadily through the night; 
though once or twice the roaring of the waves in¬ 
creased so suddenly, as to make us beiieve we had 
passed a breaker. At the time it was unaccount¬ 
able to me, but I now believe it to be occasioned 
by the bark behind us, coming rather near in the 
darkness of the night.—At midnight I went on deck. 
Nothing but an occasional sparkle was to be seen, 
and the ocean was undisturbed. Still it was a fear¬ 
ful and appalling darkness, and in spite of my en¬ 
deavours I could not compose myself. At the wind¬ 
lass, on the forecastle, three of the sailors, like my 
self, unable to sleep had collected for conversation 


WEST-INDIR 


263 

On joining them, I found our fears were mutual. 
They all kept their eyes steadily fixed upon the un¬ 
known vessel, as if anticipating some dreadful event. 
They informed me that they had put their arms in 
order and were determined to stand or die. 

At this moment a flash of light, perhaps a musket 
burning priming, proceeded from the vessel in pur¬ 
suit, and we saw distinctly that her deck was co¬ 
vered with men. My heart almost failed me. I had 
never been in battle, and I knew not what it was. 
Day at length dawned, and setting all her canvass, 
our pursuer gained alarmingly upon us. It was 
evident that she had followed us the whole night, 
being unwilling to attack us in the dark.—In a few 
minutes, she fired a swivel and came along side. She 
was a pirate. Her boat was lowered, and about a 
dozed hideous looking objects jumped in, with a 
commander at their head. The boat pushed off, and 
was nearing us fast, as we arranged ourselves for 
giving her a broadside. Our whole stock of arms 
consisted of six muskets and an old swivel used as 
a signal gun, belonging to the Mary, and a pair of 
pistols of my own, which I carried in my belt. The 
pirate boat’s crew were armed with muskets, pistols, 
swords, cutlasses, and knives ; and when she came 
within her own length of us, we fired five of our 
muskets and the swivel into her. Her fire was 
scarcely half given, when she filled and went down 
with all her crew. At this success we were inclined 
to rejoice, but looking over the pirate schooner, we 
observed her deck still swarming with the same 
description of horrid looking wretches. A second 
boat’s crew pushed off, with their muskets pointed 
directly at us the whole time. When they came 
within the same distance as the other, we fired, but 
with little, if any effect. The pirate immediately re¬ 
turned the fire, and with horrid cries jumped aboard 
of us. Two of our brave crew were lying dead upon 








WEST-INDIES 265 

and legs, that my agony was excruciating. In this 
situation he left me. 

On looking round, I found them all employed in 
plundering and ransacking every thing we had. 
Over my left shoulder one of our sailors was strung 
up to the yard arm, and apparently in the last ago¬ 
nies of death ; while before me our gallant Captain 
was on his knees and begging for his life. The 
wretches were endeavouring to extort from him the 
secret of our money; but for a while he was firm 
and dauntless. Provoked at his obstinacy, they 
extended his arms and cut them off at the elbows. 
At this, human nature gave way, and the injured 
man confessed the spot where we had concealed 
our specie.—In a few moments it was aboard their 
own vessel. To revenge themselves on our un¬ 
happy captain, when they had satisfied themselves 
that nothing else was hidden, they spread a bed of 
oakum on the deck before, and after soaking it 
through with turpentine, tied the captain on it, filled 
his mouth with the same combustibles, and set the 
whole on fire. The cries of the unfortunate man were 
heart-rending, and his agonies must have been 
unutterable; but they were soon over. All this I 
was compelled to witness. Heart-sick with the 
sight, I once shut my eyes, but a musket discharged 
close to my ear, was a warning sufficient to keep 
them open. 

On casting my eyes to the stern of the vessel, I 
discovered that the boatswain had been nailed to 
the deck through his feet, and the body spiked 
through to the tiller. He was writhing in the last 
agonies of crucifixion.—Our fifth comrade was out 
of sight during all this tragedy ; in a few minutes, 
however, he was brought upon the deck blindfolded. 
He was then conducted to the muzzle of the swivel, 
and commanded to kneel. The swivel was then 
fired off, and his head was dreadfully wounded by 
23 


26G 


PIRACIES IN THE 


the discharge. In a moment after, it was agonizing 
to behold his torments and convulsions—language 
is too feeble to describe them. I have seen men 
hung upon the gibbet, but their death is like sinking 
in slumber when compared with his. 

Excited with the scene of human butchery, one 
of those wretches fired his pistol to the captain’s 
dog. The ball struck his shoulder and disabled 
him ; he finished him by shooting him again, and at 
last by cutting out his tongue ! At this last hell- 
engendered act, my blood boiled with indignation 
at such savage brutality on a helpless, inoffensive 
dog ! But I was unable to give utterance or action 
to my feelings. 

Seeing that the crew had been every one des¬ 
patched, I began to think more of myself. My old 
enemy, who seemed to forget me, once more ap¬ 
proached me ; but shockingly besmeared with blood 
and brains. He had stood by the side of the unfor¬ 
tunate sailor who suffered before the swivel, and 
supported him with the point of his bayonet. He 
drew a stiletto from his side, placed its point upon 
my heart and gave it a heavy thrust. I felt its 
point touch my skin ; but the quilting of my bank 
bills prevented its further entrance. This savage 
monster then ran it up my breast, as if intending 
to divide my lungs, and in doing so, the bank bills 
fell upon the deck. He snatched them up greedily, 
and exclaimed, “ Ah ! laissez mois voir ce que 
reste.” My dress in a few moments, was ripped to 
pieces at the peril of my life. He frequently came 
so near as to tear my skin and deluge me with 
blood ; but by the mercy of Providence, I escaped 
from every danger.—At this moment a heavy flaw 
struck the schooner, and I heard one of the pirates 
say, “Voila un vaisseau !” They all retreated pre¬ 
cipitately, and gaining their own vessel, was soon 
out of sight. 


WEST-INDIES. 


207 


Helpless as I now was, I had the satisfaction of 
knowing that the pirates had been frightened by 
the appearance of a sail, but it was impossible for 
me to see it. Still tied to the foremast, I knew not 
what was my prospect of release.—An hour or two 
had elapsed after they left me; and it was now 
noon. The sun played violently upon my head, and 
I felt a languor and debility that indicated approach 
ing fever. My head gradually sunk upon my breast, 
when I was shocked by hearing the water pouring 
into the cabin windows. The wretches had scuttled 
the vessel, and left me pinioned to go down with 
her. I commended my Spirit to my Maker, and 
gave myself up for lest. I felt myself gradually 
dying away, and the last thing I remembered was 
the foaming noise of the waves. This was occa¬ 
sioned by a ship passing by me. I was taken in, 
restored to health, and am now a poor, ruined, help¬ 
less man. 


The ship Liverpool Packet, Ricker, of Portsmouth, 
N. H. was boarded on the 16th off Cape St. Antonio, 
Cuba, by two piratical schooners ; two barges con¬ 
taining thirty or forty men, robbed the vessel of 
every thing moveable, even to her flags , rigging, 
one boat which happened to be afloat, and having a 
boy in it which belonged to the ship. They held 
a consultation whether they should murder the crew, 
as they had done before, or not—in the mean time 
taking the ship into anchoring ground. On bring 
ing her to anchor, the crew saw a brig close along 
side, bi rnt to the water’s edge, and three dead bo- 




268 


PIRACIES IN THE 


dies floating near her.—The pirates said they had 
burnt the brig the day before, and murdered all 
the crew !—and intended doing the same with them. 
They said “ look at the turtles, (meaning the dead 
bodies) you will soon be the same.” They said 
the vessel was a Baltimore brig, which they had 
robbed and burnt, and murdered the crew as before 
stated, of which they had little doubt.—Capt. Ricker 
was most shockingly bruised by them. The mate 
was hung till he was supposed to be dead, but came 
to, and is now alive. They told the captain that 
they belonged in Regia, and should kill them all to 
prevent discovery. 


BRIG DOVER. 


Extract from the Log-Book of the brig Dover , Capt. 

Sabins, from Matanzas for Charleston. 

Jan. 16, 1822, sea account, at 1 P. M.—Pan of 
Matanzas bearing S. saw a boat coming to us from 
a small drogher, which came out of Matanzas the 
night before us, with five Spaniards, armed with 
long knives, pistols, cutlasses, &c. When they got 
within hail, they fired a musket at us, cheered, and 
came on board. They were the most villanous 
looking rascals that any one had probably ever be¬ 
held. They immediately drew their weapons, and 
after beating us severely with their cutlasses, drove 
us below. They then robbed us of all our clothes 
except what we had on, our watches, and every 
thing of value. We were afterwards called up sin¬ 
gly. Four men with drawn knives stood over the 




WEST-INDIES. 


260 


captain, and threatened him if he did not give up 
his money, they would kill all hands and burn the 
vessel. After robbing the people they commenced 
plundering the brig. They broke open the hatches, 
made us get out our boat and carry their plunder 
to their vessel. They took from us one compass, 
five bags coffee, one barrel sugar, nearly all our pro¬ 
visions, our colours, rigging, and cooking utensils. 
They then ordered us to stand to the north, or they 
would overhaul us, murder the crew and burn the 
vessel. We made sail, and shortly after were brought 
to by another boat of the same character, which fired 
into us, but left us upon being informed that we had 
been already robbed. 


The Porpoise, Capt. Ramage, arrived at Charles¬ 
ton from his successful cruise against the Pirates, 
having recaptured a Baltimore schooner which had 
been in their possession three days, destroyed three 
of their establishments on shore, 12 of their vessels, * 
besides two on the stocks, and brought in four pri¬ 
soners, against whom it is supposed there is strong 
evidence. 

It is stated, that a Pirate Captain and his mate 
quarrelled on the question of putting to death all 
captives,—they fought a duel with muskets, the 
Captain was killed, and the Mate (who was the 
advocate of mercy) succeeded to the command. 

The schooner Jane, of Boston, was taken the 24th 
Jan. by a pirate schooner.—They were carried into 
a place where were three more of the same trade.— 
23 *“ 




PIRACIES IN THE 


m 

The captain and crew were threatened, beat, and 
the vessel plundered of much property; after which 
they were released. 

If the Spanish Government is unable to drive the 
Pirates from their strong holds in Cuba, the Balti¬ 
more Chronicle suggests the necessity of occupying 
the island with American forces for that purpose, as 
robbers and pirates have a right to enjoy no protec¬ 
tion whatever ; and in this case all civilized powers 
are warranted in carrying the war into the enemy’s 
territory. 


PIRATES CAPTURED. 


Charleston , Feb. 12.—The four pirates brought 
into this port by the United States Porpoise, were 
landed yesterday from that vessel, and committed 
to prison. Three of them are Spaniards, the other 
a Portuguese ; two of the former father and son, 
the son being only about 18 years of age. 

Charleston , Feb. 14, 1824.—The United States 
schooner Grampus, Lieut. Gregory, from a cruise 
of 4 months in the West-Indies and along the Spa¬ 
nish Main, arrived at our port yesteHay morning, 
last from Santa Martha. She has brought in three 
Pirates, viz. James Maxfield, one of the crew that 
robbed the Orleans, of Philadelphia, and Charles 
Owens and James Ross, who robbed a Portsmouth 
schooner of $2600 in the Bite of Leogane. One of 
these daring freebooters was delivered up to Lieut. 
G. by the Governor of St. Barts, and the other two 




WEST-INDIES. 


271 

by the President of Hayti, for trial by the United 
States* The G. lias boarded several privateers 
during her cruise, and traversed a space of 9000 
miles, spreading terror among those wretches 
whose impotence is equal to their atrocity, and who 
only require active pursuit to frighten them out of 
visible existence. 

Mobile , June 1, 1822.—Capt. Carter of the schr. 
Swan, arrived yesterday from Havana, reports that 
on his outward passage from this port, on the 27th 
ult. at 8 o’clock, A. M. being then within 30 miles 
from Havana, he was boarded by an open boat from 
the shore, manned with nine men, who all appeared 
to be Spanish, armed with muskets, pistols, cut¬ 
lasses, and knives, who plundered the vessel of 
every thing they could carry off. They also robbed 
the captain and crew of their clothing, even strip¬ 
ping the jackets from their backs, and the shoes 
from their feet. 

The villains would not even spare the property of 
a Spanish Priest, passenger on board, but they rob¬ 
bed him also of his clothes, money, and plate, the 
value of 800 dollars ; they however afterwards, re¬ 
turned his gown. 

A sail heaving in sight, they left the schooner 
with orders to steer E. N. E. and not go over three 
leagues from shore, under pain of death. From 
their conversation while on board, it appeared that 
they intended to board the schooner again in the 
evening, run her ashore and burn her, but she es¬ 
caped by the darkness of the night. 


272 


PIRACIES IN THE 


LIEUT. ALLEN’S VICTORY AND DEATH. 


Extract of a letter from Matanzas, dated Novembe~ 
11, 1822. 

“ The gallant ALLEN is no more !—You witness 
ed the promptitude with which he hastened to relieve 
the vessels which I informed him had been captured 
off this port. He arrived just in time to save five 
sail of vessels which he found in possession of a 
gang of pirates, 300 strong, established in the Bay 
of Lejuapo, about 15 leagues east of this. He fell, 
pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a divi¬ 
sion of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine 
schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen 
pounder on a pivot, and four smaller guns, with the 
bloody flag nailed to the mast. Himself, Capt. 
Freeman of Marines, and twelve men, were in the 
boat, much in advance of his other boats, and even 
took possession of the schooner, after a desperate 
resistance, which nothing but a bravery almost too 
daring could have overcome. The pirates, all but 
one, escaped by taking to their boats and jumping 
overboard, before the Alligator’s boats reached them. 
Two other schooners escaped by the use of their 
oars, the wind being light. 

Capt. Allen survived about four hours, during 
which his conversation evinced a composure and 
firmness of mind, and correctness of feeling, as 
honourable to his character, and more consoling to 
his friends than even the dauntless bravery he 
before exhibited.” 

The Surgeon of the Alligator in a letter to a 
friend, says, “ He continued giving orders and con- 



■\VnrSl-INDIES. 


273 


versing with Mr. Dale and the rest of us, until a 
few minutes before his death, with a degree of 
cheerfulness that was little to be expected from a 
man in his condition. He said he wished his rela¬ 
tives and his country to know that he had fought 
well, and added that he died in peace and good will 
towards all the world, and hoped for his reward in 
the next.” 

Lieut. Allen had but few equals in the service. 
He was ardently devoted to the interest of his 
country, was brave, intelligent, and accomplished in 
his profession. He displayed, living and dying, a 
magnanimity that sheds lustre on his relatives, his 
friends, and his country. 


PIRATES ENTRAPPED. 


The British schooner Speedwell arrived at Nas¬ 
sau N. P. in November, bringing in 18 pirates, who 
had been captured by the Speedwell and her con¬ 
sort. The schooner had been disguised as a mer¬ 
chantman, and the pirates, taking her to be an easy 
prize, came carelessly along side of her, for the 
purpose of boarding, when she gave them a hot fire, 
and threw them into confusion. Many jumped over¬ 
board and were drowned ; and with these and the 
killed, the loss of the pirates was about 15 or 16. 
The remainder of them, 18 in number, were taken 
prisoners and carried into Nassau. 




274 


PIRACIES IN THE 


SAILING OF COMMODORE PORTER. 


BALTIMORE, JAN. 17, 1823. 

Yesterday Commodore PORTER left this port 
in the steam galley Enterprize, to join the squadron 
fitted out at Norfolk, for the purpose of suppressing 
piracy on the coast of Cuba. Every friend of hu¬ 
manity must wish that the efforts of the distinguish¬ 
ed officer who has been selected to this command 
will be crowned with success. The means adopted 
are certainly the best calculated to effect the object. 
Frigates and sloops of war are totally inadequate, 
by means of their great draft of water; but the ves¬ 
sels which have been selected by Commodore Por¬ 
ter, are precisely calculated to ferret the banditti 
from their lurking places. The aid of steam we 
think a most valuable addition to the squadron, and 
from the manner in which the Enterprize has been 
fitted out, we have every reason to believe she 
will completely answer the expectations formed. 
Commodore Porter has been indefatigable since 
he came here, and several of our citizens conver¬ 
sant in steam affairs, volunteered their services to 
aid him in the necessary equipments for that depart¬ 
ment. We learn that she is provided with dupli¬ 
cates' of every piece of machinery which might be 
carried away in action, and that able and experi¬ 
enced engineers were also procured for her. 

In a very short time we hope to hear of the 
Commodore’s arrival at his cruising ground, and we 
doubt not he will soon put an end to the ravages of 
those lawless barbarians. 


WEST-INDIES. 


275 


EXECUTION OF THE PIRATES. 


Ten of the pirates captured by the British sloop 
of War Tyne, were executed at Kingston, Jamaica, 
on Friday, the 7th of February, 1823. 

About a quarter of an hour before day dawn, the 
wretched culprits were taken from the jail, under a 
guard of soldiers from the 50th regiment, and the 
City Guard. On their arrival at the wherry wharf, 
the military retired, and the prisoners, with the 
Town Guard were put on board two wherries, in 
which they proceeded to Port Royal Point, the usual 
place of execution in similar cases. They were 
there met by a strong party of military, consisting 
of 50 men, under command of an officer. They 
formed themselves into a square round the place of 
execution, with the Sheriff and his officers with the 
prisoners in the centre. The gallows was of consi¬ 
derable length, and contrived with a drop so as to 
prevent the unpleasant circumstances which fre¬ 
quently occur. 

The unfortunate men had been in continual prayer 
from the time they were awakened out of a deep 
sleep till they arrived at that place, where they were 
to close their existence. 

They all expressed their gratitude for the attention 
they had met with from the Sheriff and the inferior 
officers. Many pressed the hands of the turnkey to 
their lips, others to their hearts, and, on their knees, 
prayed that God, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary, 
would bless him and the other jailers for their good¬ 
ness. They all then fervently joined in prayer. To 
the astonishment of all, no clerical character, of any 
pi*suasion, was present. They repeatedly called 


PIRACIES IN THE 


276 

out, “Adonde esta el padre,” (Where is the holy 
father.) 

Juan Hernandez called on all persons present to 
hear him—he was innocent; what they had said 
about his confessing himself guilty was untrue. He 
had admitted himself guilty, because he hoped foi 
pardon ; but that now he was to die, he called God, 
Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Virgin Mary, and 
the Saints, to witness that he spoke truth—that he 
was no pirate, no murderer—he had been forced. 
The Lieutenant of the pirates was a wretch, who did 
not fear God, and had compelled him to act. 

Juan Gutterez and Francisco de Sayas were loud 
in their protestations of innocence. 

Manuel Lima said, for himself, he did not care ; 
he felt for the old man (Miguel Jose.) How could 
he be a pirate who could not help himself? If it 
were a Christian country, they would have pardoned 
him for his gray hairs. He was innocent—they had 
both been forced. Let none of his friends and rela¬ 
tions ever venture to sea—he hoped his death would 
be a warning to them, that the innocent might suf¬ 
fer for the guilty. The language of this young man 
marked him a superior to the generality of his com¬ 
panions in misfortune. The seamen of the Whim 
stated that he was very kind to them when prisoners 
on board the piratical vessel. Just before he was 
turned off, he addressed the old man—“ Adios viejo, 
para siempre adios.”—(Farewell, old man, for ever 
farewell.) 

Several of the prisoners cried out for mercy, par¬ 
don, pardon. 

Domingo Eucalla, the black man, then addressed 
them. “ Do not look for mercy here, but pray to 
God; we are all brought here to die. This is not 
built for nothing; here we must end our lives. You 
know I am innocent, but I must die the same as 
you all. There is not any body here who can do us 


WEST-INDIES. 


277 


any good, so let us think only of God Almighty. We 
are not children but men, you know that all must 
die; and in a few years those who kill us must die 
too. When I was born, God set the way of my 
death; I do not blame any body. I was taken by 
the pirates, and they made me help them; they 
would not let me be idle. I could not show that this 
was the truth, and therefore they have judged me 
by the people they have found me with. I am put 
to death unjustly, but I blame nobody. It was my 
misfortune. Come, let us pray. If we are innocent, 
so much the less we have to repent. I do not come 
here to accuse any one. Death must come one day 
or other ; better to the innocent than guilty.” He 
then joined in prayer with the others. He seemed 
to be much reverenced by his fellow prisoners. He 
chose those prayers he thought most adapted to the 
occasion. Hundreds were witnesses to the manly 
firmness of this negro. Observing a bystander list¬ 
ening attentively to the complaints of one of his fel¬ 
low wretches, he translated what had been said into 
English. With a steady pace, and a resolute and 
resigned countenance, he ascended the fatal scaf¬ 
fold. Observing the executioner unable to untie a 
knot on the collar of one of the prisoners, he with 
his teeth undid it. He then prayed most fervently 
till the drop fell. 

Miguel Jose protested his innocence.—“ No he 
robado, no he matado ningune, muero innocente.” 
—(I have robbed no one, I have killed no one, I die 
innocent, i am an old man, but my family will feel 
my disgraceful death.) 

Francisco Miguel prayed devoutly, but inaudibly. 
His soul seemed to have quitted the body before he 
was executed. 

Breti Gullimillit called on all to witness his inno¬ 
cence ; it was of no use for him to say an untruth, 
for he was going before the face of God. 

24 


PIRACIES IN THE 


278 

Augustus Hernandez repeatedly declared his in¬ 
nocence, requested that no one would say he had 
made a confession; he had none to make. 

Juan Hernandez was rather obstinate when the 
executioner pulled the cap over his eyes. He said, 
rather passionately—“ Quita is de mis ojos.”—(Re¬ 
move it from my eyes.) He then rubbed it up 
against one of the posts of the gallows. 

Miguel Jose made the same complaint, and drew 
the covering from his eyes by rubbing his head 
against a fellow sufferer. 

Pedro Nondre was loud in his ejaculations for 
mercy. He wept bitterly. He was covered with 
the marks of deep wounds. 

The whole of the ten, included in the death war¬ 
rant, having been placed on the scaffold, and the 
ropes suspended, the drop was let down. Nondre 
being an immense heavy man, broke the rope, and 
fell to the ground alive. Juan Hernandez struggled 
long. Lima was much convulsed. The old man 
Gullimillit, and Miguel, were apparently dead before 
the drop fell. Eucalla (the black man) gave one 
convulsion, and all was over. 

When Nondre recovered from the fall and saw 
his nine lifeless companions stretched in death, he 
gave an agonizing shriek; he wrung his hands, 
screamed “ Favor, favor, me matan sin causa. O! 
buenos Christianos, me amparen, ampara me, am- 
para me, no hay Christiano en asta, tiara?’ (Mercy, 
mercy, they kill me without cause—Oh, good Chris¬ 
tians, protect me, protect me, Oh, protect me. Is 
there no Christian in this land.) 

He then lifted his eyes to Heaven, and prayed 
long and loud. Upon being again suspended, he 
was for a long period convulse'd. He was an im- 
msrae powerful man, and died hard. 


WEST-INDIES. 


279 


PIRATES CAPTURED. 


The famous pirate, La Cata, was captured, off the 
Isle of Pines, about the 1st of March, 1823, by the 
British cutter Grecian, after a smart action. The 
cutter had 50 men—the pirate 100, and 8 guns ; it 
was believed that about 30 of the crew of the latter 
were killed, but only three prisoners were made, 
the rest making their escape on shore. Consider¬ 
able quantities of goods were found on board the 
prize. 

The Grecian conveyed the prisoners to Jamaica, 
where, it seems, there is more law to reach cases 
of piracy than in the United States. 


LAFITTE, THE NOTED PIRATE, KILLED. 


A British sloop of war fell in with and captured a 
piratical vessel with a crew of sixty men, under com¬ 
mand of the famous Lafitte. He hoisted the 
bloody flag and refused quarter, and fought until 
nearly every man was killed or wounded —Lafitte 
being among the former. 

The schooner Pilot, of Norfolk, was captured 
by the pirates off Matanzas, and her crew much 
abused; but they were put ashore, and the wretches 
went on a cruize in the prize, and captured and 




280 


PIRACIES IN THE 


robbed two vessels, within two miles of the Moro 
castle , Havana. A few days after, the U. S. schoon¬ 
er Jackall fell in with her and made a re-capture, 
securing, however, only one of the pirates; but 
several of them were killed in the action, fighting 
desperately. Several captures were made about 
the same time by Com. Porter’s squadron, which 
was actively employed. 


BATTLE WITH THE PIRATES. 


Almost every day furnished accounts evincing the 
activity of Commodore Porter, and the officers and 
men under his command; but for a long time their 
industry and zeal was rather shown in the suppres¬ 
sion of piracy than the punishment of it. At length, 
however, an opportunity offered for inflicting the 
latter, as detailed in the following letter, dated Ma- 
tanzas, July 10, 1823. 

“ I have the pleasure of informing you of a bril¬ 
liant achievement obtained against the pirates on 
the 5th inst. by two barges attached to Commodore 
Porter’s squadron, the Gallinipper, Lieut. Watson, 
18 men, and the Musquito, Lieut. Inman, 10 men. 
The barges were returning from a cruise to wind¬ 
ward ; when they were near Jiguapa Bay ,13 leagues 
to windward of Matanzas, they entered it—it being 
a rendezvous for pirates. They immediately dis¬ 
covered a large schooner under way, which" they 
supposed to be a Patriot privateer; and as their 




WEST-INDIES. 


* 281 

stores were nearly exhausted, they hoped to obtain 
some supplies from her. They therefore made sail 
in pursuit. When they were within cannon shot 
distance, she rounded to and fired her long gun, at 
the same time run up the bloody flag, directing her 
course towards the shore, continuing to fire without 
effect. When she had got within a short distance 
of the shore, she came to, with springs on her cable, 
continuing to fire; and when the barges were within 
30 yards, they fired their muskets without touching 
boat or man; our men gave three cheers, and pre¬ 
pared to board; the pirates, discovering their inten¬ 
tion, jumped into the water, when the bargemen, 
calling on the name of “ Allen,” commenced a 
destructive slaughter, killing them in the water and 
as they landed. So exasperated were our men, that 
it was impossible for their officers to restrain them, 
and many were killed after orders were given to 
grant quarter. Twenty-seven dead were counted, 
some sunk, five taken prisoners by the bargemen, 
and eight taken by a party of Spaniards on shore. 
The officers calculated that from 30 to 35 were 
killed. The schooner mounted a long nine pounder 
on a pivot, and 4 four pounders, with every other 
necessary armament, and a crew of 50 to 60 men, 
and ought to have blown the barges to atoms. She 
was commanded by the notorious Diableto or Little 
Devil. This statement I have from Lieut. Watson 
himself, and it is certainly the most decisive opera¬ 
tion that has been effected against those murderers, 
either by the English or American force. 

“This affair occurred on the same spot where the 
brave Allen fell about one year since. The prize 
was sent to Thompson’s Island.” 

A British sloop of war, about the same tim>e, cap¬ 
tured a pirate schooner off St. Domingo, with a crew 
of 60 men. She had 200,000 dollars in specie, and 
24 * 


PIRACIES IN THE 


282 

other valuable articles on board. The brig Vestal 
sent another pirate schooner to New-Providence. 


CAPTURE OF A TIRATICAL STATION IN CUBA. 


The U. S. schooners of war Greyhound and Bea¬ 
gle left Thompson’s Island, June 7, 1823, under the 
command of Lieuts. Kearney and Newton, and 
cruised within the Keys, on the south side of Cuba, 
as far as Cape Cruz, touching at all the intermediate 
ports on the island, to intercept pirates. On the 21st 
July, they came to anchor off Cape Cruz, and Lieut. 
Kearney went in his boat to reconnoitre the shore, 
when he was fired on by a party of pirates who 
were concealed among the bushes. A fire was also 
opened from several pieces of cannon erected on a 
hill, a short distance off. The boat returned, and 
five or six others were manned from the vessels, and 
pushed off for the shore, but a very lieavy cannon¬ 
ade being kept up by the pirates on the heights, as 
well as from the boats were compelled to retreat. 
The two schooners were then warped in, when they 
discharged several broadsides, and covered the land¬ 
ing of the boats. After a short time the pirates re¬ 
treated to a hill that was well fortified. A small 
hamlet, in which the pirates resided was set fire to 
and destroyed. Three guns, one a four pounder, 
and two large swivels, with several pistols, cutlasses, 
and eight large boats, were captured. A cave, 
about 150 feet deep, was discovered, near where 
the houses were, and after considerable difficulty, a 
party of seamen got to the bottom, where was found 




WEST-INDIES. 


283 

an immense quantity of plunder, consisting of broad¬ 
cloths, dry goods, female dresses, saddlery, k c. 
Many human bones were also in the cave, supposed 
to have been unfortunate persons who were taken 
and put to death. A great deal of the articles were 
brought away, and th£'rest destroyed. About forty 
pirates escaped to the heights, but many were sup¬ 
posed to have been killed, from the fire of the 
schooners, as well as from the men who landed. 
The bushes were so thick that it was impossible to 
go after them. Several other caves are in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, in which it was conjectured they occasion 
ally take shelter. 


PIRATES TAKEN AND EXECUTED. 


A piratical vessel, and her crew of thirty-eight 
men were captured off Matanzas on the 16th May, 
1825, by a British cutter and a steamboat fitted out 
at that place. Several of the pirates were killed, 
and the rest sent to Havana for trial. It was ascer¬ 
tained that some of them had assisted in capturing 
more than twenty American vessels, whose crews 
were murdered !! 

An additional gang of pirates was hung at the 
# same period, at Porto Rico—Eleven at once. 





CHARLES GIBBS, otherwise JAMES D. JEFFERS, 
AND THOMAS I. WANSLEY. 

This atrocious villain was a native of Providence in 
Rhode Island. His true name was James D. Jeffers, 
but as he was more generally known as Charles Gibbs, 
we shall give him that appellation. His advemures, 
excepting the crime for which he was finally hanged, 
are only known from his own admissions while under 
sentence of death, and our readers must judge for 
themselves how far they are to be credited. 

It appears from evidence legally taken, that the brig 
Vineyard sailed from New Orleans about the first of 
November, eighteen hundred and thirty, for Philadel¬ 
phia. William Thornby was the master of the ves¬ 
sel, and William Roberts the mate. The crew con¬ 
sisted of,seven persons, viz. Charles Gibbs, John 
Brownrigg, Robert Dawes, Henry Atwell, James 
Talbot, A. Church, and Thomas I. Wansley, a young 
negro native of Delaware, who acted as cook. 

When the Vineyard had been five days at sea, Wans- 
ley made it known to the crew that there were fifty 
thousand dollars in specie on board. This information 
excited their cupidity, and induced them to consult on 
the means of getting the money into their own hands. 
Many conversations took place on the subject, and 
while these were going on, Dawes, who was a mere 
boy, was sent to converse with the officers, in order to 
divert their attention from what was passing. Finally 
it was resolved , that as the master and mate were old 
men, it was time they should die and make room for the 
rising generation. Moreover, they were of opinion that 
as the mate was of* a peevish disposition, he deserved 
death. Yet, to do no man injustice, it does not appear 
that Brownrigg or Talbot had any part in these 
deliberations, or in the foul deed that resulted from 
them. 

The conspirators agreed to commit the greatest 
earthly crimes, murder and piracy, on the night of the 
twenty-third. The murder of the master was as- 


Mutiny on board the Vineyard. 


























































































































































286 CHARLES GIBBS,' AND 

signed to Gibbs and Wansley; that of the mate to 

Atwell and Church. 

The vessel was off Cape Hatteras, when the time 
fixed for the murder arrived. The master was stand¬ 
ing on the Quarter deck, Dawes had the helm, and 
Brownrigg was aloft. Dawes called Wansley aft to 
trim the light in the binacle. The black moved as if 
to obey, but coming behind Mr. Thornby, struck him 
on the back of the neck with the pump brake, so that 
he fell forward, crying “ murder !” Wansley repeat¬ 
ed his blows till the master was dead, and then, with 
the assistance of Gibbs, threw the body overboard. 
While this deed of darkness was being done, the mate, 
aroused by the noise, came up the companion ladder 
from the cabin. Atwell and Church were waiting for 
him at the top of the ladder, and one of them struck 
him down with a club; but the blow did not kill him. 
Gibbs followed to complete the work, but not being 
able to find the mate in the dark, returned to the deck 
for the binacle light. With this he descended and 
laid hands on the victim, but was not able to over¬ 
come him, even with the aid of Atwell; but finally, 
with the assistance of Church, he was dragged on 
deck, beaten and thrown overboard. He was not yet 
dead, and swam after the vessel four or five minutes, 
crying for help, before he sank. All these transac¬ 
tions were witnessed by the boy Dawes, who had a 
passive, if not an active part in them. 

The pirates then took possession of the vessel, and 
Wansley busied himself in wiping up the blood that 
had been spilled on deck, declaring, with an oath, 
that though he had heard that the stains of the blood 
of a murdered person could not be effaced, he would 
wipe away these. Then, after drinking all round, 
they got up the money. It was distributed in equal 
portions to all on board; Brownrigg and Talbot being 
assured that if they would keep the secret, and share 
the plunder, they should receive no injury. 


THOMAS I. WANSLEY. 287 

They then steered a northeasterly course toward 
Long Island, till they came within fifteen or twenty 
miles of South-Hampton Light, where they resolved 
to leave the vessel, in the boats, though the wind was 
blowing hard. Atwell Scuttled the brig and got into 
the jolly boat with Church and Talbot, while Gibbs, 
Wansley, Dawes and Brownrigg, put off in the long 
boat. The jolly boat swamped on a bar two miles 
from the shore, and all on board were drowned. The 
long boat was in great danger also, and was only 
saved from a like fate by throwing over several bags 
of specie. Nevertheless, the crew at last got on shore 
on Pelican Island, where they buried their money, 
and found a sportsman who told them where they 
were. They then crossed to Great Barn Island, and 
went to the house of a Mr. Johnson, to whom Brown¬ 
rigg gave the proper information. Thence they went 
to the house of a Mr. Leonard, where they procured a 
wagon to carry them farther. As they were about to 
get in, Brownrigg cried aloud that they might go 
whither they pleased, but he would not accompany 
them, for they were murderers. On hearing this Mr. 
Leonard sent for a magistrate, and Gibbs and Dawes 
were apprehended. Wansley escaped into the woods, 
but was followed and soon taken. 

The evidence of the guilt of the prisoners was full and 
conclusive. Their own confessions of the crime gra¬ 
tuitously made to Messrs. Meritt and Stevenson, who 
had the custody of them from Flatbush to New-York, 
could have left not the shadow of a doubt on the mind 
of any person who heard the testimony ol those officers. 
Wansley told the whole story, occasionally prompted 
by Gibbs, and both admitted that Brownrigg was in¬ 
nocent of any participation in their crimes. Their 
confession was not, however, so favorable to Dawes. 

Gibbs was arraigned for the murder of William 
Roberts, and Wansley. for that of William Thornby. 
They were both found guilty, and the district attorney 


2SS CHARLES GIBES, AtfE 

moved for judgment on the verdict. There was no¬ 
thing peculiar in their deportment during the trial. 
The iron visage of Gibbs was occasionally darkened 
with a transient emotion, but he had evidently aban¬ 
doned all hope of escape, and sat the greater part of 
the time with his hands between his knees, calmly 
surveying the scene before him. Wansley was more 
agitated, and trembled visibly when he rose to hear 
the verdict of the jury. 

The judge proceeded to pass sentence on them se¬ 
verally, that each should be taken from the place 
where they then were, and thence to the place of con¬ 
finement, and should be hanged by the neck till dead • 
and that the marshal of the Southern District of New- 
York should see this sentence carried into execution 
on the twenty-second day of April following, between 
the hours of ten and four o’clock. 

The first account which Gibbs gave of himself is, 
that his father obtained a situation for him in the 
United States sloop of war Hornet, Captain Lawrence, 
during the last war with England, in which vessel he 
made two cruises; in the last of which she captured 
and sunk the enemy’s sloop of war Peacock off the 
coast of Pernambuco, after an engagement of twenty 
minutes. On the arrival of the Hornet in the United 
States, Captain Lawrence was assigned by the go¬ 
vernment to the command of the frigate Chesapeake, 
then lying in Boston harbor, and Gibbs accompanied 
him to that ill-fated vessel in the month of April, 
eighteen hundred and thirteen. 

This statement of his services was proved to be 
false, and acknowledged as such by himself. His 
motive for the falsehood was, to conceal his real ad¬ 
ventures about this time, that his proper name might 
not be discovered. There is much to corroborate and 
nothing to disprove what follows. 

After his exchange, he abandoned all idea of fol¬ 
lowing the sea for a subsistence, went home to Rhode 


THOMAS I. WANSLtiY. 289 

Island, and remained there a few months, but being 
unable to conquer his propensity to roving, he entered 
on board a ship bound to New Orleans, and thence to 
Stockholm. On the homeward passage they were 
compelled to put into Bristol, England, in distress, 
where the ship was condemned, and he proceeded to 
Liverpool. He returned to the United States in the 
ship Amity, Captain Maxwell. 

After its arrival, he left the ship, and entered on 
board the Colombian privateer Maria, Captain Bell. 
They cruised for about two months in the Gulf of 
Mexico, around Cuba, but the crew becoming dissatis¬ 
fied in consequence of the non-payment of their prize- 
money, a mutiny arose, the crew took possession of 
the schooner, and landed the officers near Pensacola. 
A number of days elapsed before it was finally decided 
by them what course to pursue. Some advised that 
they should cruise as before, under the Colombian 
commission; others proposed to hoist the black flag. 
They cruised for a short time without success, and it 
was then unanimously determined to hoist the black 
flag and declare war against all nations. At last one 
of the crew, named Antonio, suggested that an ar¬ 
rangement could be made with a man in Havana, that 
would be mutually beneficial; that he would receive 
all their goods, sell them, and divide the proceeds. 
This suggestion being favorably received, they ran 
up within two miles of Moro Castle, and sent Antonio 
on shore to see the merchant and make a contract 
with him, which was done. 

The Maria now put to sea, with a crew of about 
fifty men. The first vessel she fell in with was the 
Indispensable, an English ship, bound to Havana, 
which was taken and carried to Cape Antonio. The 
crew were immediately destroyed : those who resisted 
were hewed to pieces : those who offered no resistance, 
were reserved to be shot and thrown overboard. Such 
was the manner in which they proceeded in all their 


CHARLES GIBBS. AND 


*290 

subsequent captures. The unhappy being that cried 
for mercy, in the hope that something like humanity 
was to be found in the breasts even of the worst of 
men, shared the same fate with him who resolved to 
sell his life at the highest price. A French brig, with 
a valuable cargo of wine and silk, was taken shortly 
after: the vessel was burnt and the crew murdered. 

The sanguinary scenes through which Gibbs had 
passed, now effectually wrought up his desperation to 
the highest pitch, and being as remarkable for his 
coolness and intrepidity as he was for his skill in na¬ 
vigation, he was unanimously chosen to be their lead¬ 
er in all future enterprises. To reap a golden harvest 
without the hazard of encountering living witnesses 
of their crimes, it was unanimously resolved to spare 
no lives, and to burn and plunder without mercy. 
They knew that the principle inculcated by the old 
maxim that “dead men tell no tales,” was the safe 
one for them, and they scrupulously followed it. 
Gibbs states that, he never had occasion to give orders 
to begin the work of death. 

He now directed his course towards the Bahama 
Banks, where they captured a brig, believed to be the 
William of New York, from some port in Mexico, 
with a cargo of furniture, destroyed the crew, took 
her to Cape Antonio, and sent the furniture and other 
articles to their friend in Havana. Sometime during 
this cruise, the pirate was chased for nearly a whole 
day by a United States ship, supposed to be the John 
Adams ; he hoisted Patriot colors, and finally escaped. 
In the early part of the summer of eighteen hundred 
and seventeen, they took the Earl of Moira, an Eng¬ 
lish ship from London, with a cargo of dry goods. 
The crew were destroyed, the vessel burnt, and the 
goods carried to the Cape. There they had a settle¬ 
ment with their Havana friend, and the proceeds were 
divided according to agreement. 

During the cruise which was made in the latter 


THOMAS I. WANSLEY. 291 

part of eighteen hundred and seventeen, and the be¬ 
ginning of eighteen hundred and eighteen, a Dutch 
ship from Curacoa was captured, with a cargo of 
West India goods, and a quantity of silver plate. The 
passengers and crew, to the number of thirty, were 
all destroyed, with the exception of a young female 
about seventeen, who fell upon her knees and implored 
Gibbs to save her life. The appeal was successful, 
and he promised to save her, though he knew it would 
lead to dangerous consequences among his crew. She 
was carried to Cape Antonio, and kept there about 
two months; but the dissatisfaction increased until it 
broke out at last into open mutiny, and one of the pi¬ 
rates was shot by Gibbs for daring to lay bold of her 
with a view of beating out her brains. Gibbs was 
compelled in the end to submit her fate to a council 
of war, at which it was decided that the preservation 
of their own lives made her sacrifice indispensable. 
He therefore acquiesced in the decision, and gave 
orders to have her destroyed by poison, which was 
immediately done. 

The piratical schooner was shortly after driven 
ashore near the Cape, and so much damaged that it 
was found necessary to destroy her. A new sharp- 
built schooner was in consequence provided by their 
faithful friend in Havana, called the Picciana, and 
despatched to their rendezvous. In this vessel they 
cruised successfully for more than four years. Among 
the vessels taken and destroyed with their crews, were 
the Belvidere, Dido, a Dutch brig, the British barque 
Larch, the other vessels enumerated in the list fur¬ 
nished to Justice Hopson, and many others whose 
names are not recollected. They had a very narrow 
escape, at one time, from the English man-of-war brig 
Coronation. In the early part of October, eighteen 
hundred and twenty one, they captured a ship from 
Charleston, took her to Cape Antonio, and were busily 
engaged in landing her cargo, when the United States 


t 


292 PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN, 

brig Enterprise, Captain Kearney, hove in sight, and 
discovering their vessels at anchor, sent in her barges 
to attack them. A serious engagement followed; they 
defended themselves for some time behind a four gun 
battery, but in the end were defeated with considera¬ 
ble loss, and compelled to abandon their vessels and 
booty, and fly to the mountains for safety. 

They left hot poisoned coffee on the cabin table, in 
hopes that some of the American officers would drink 
it. This statement is confirmed by Captain Kearney. 

On Friday, April twenty-second, 1831, Gibbs and 
Wansley paid the penalty of their crimes. Both pri¬ 
soners arrived at the gallows about twelve o’clock, ac¬ 
companied by the marshal, his aids, and some twenty 
or thirty Uhited States marines. Two clergymen at¬ 
tended them to the fatal spot, where every thing being 
in readiness, and the ropes adjusted about their necks, 
the throne of mercy was fervently addressed in their 
behalf. Wansley then prayed earnestly himself, and 
afterwards joined in singing a hymn. 

The boy Dawes was not prosecuted, having been re¬ 
ceived as State’s evidence against Gibbs and Wansley. 


PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN. 

On the 26th day of August, 1834, His Britannic 
Majesty’s brig of war Savage, from Portsmouth, Eng¬ 
land, arrived at Salem, Massachusetts, having on 
board sixteen of the crew of the piratical schooner 
Panda, which robbed the brig Mexican, of Salem, on 
the high seas, nearly two years since. 

The robbery committed upon the Mexican was one 
of the most audacious and cruel acts of piracy ever 
recorded. She was bound to Rio Janeiro from Salem, 
and was boarded by a piratical schooner under Bra¬ 
zilian colors, on the 20th of September, 1832, lat. 33, 
long. 34, 30, and robbed of twenty thousand dollars 



PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN. 293 

in specie, the officers and crew stripped of every thing 
valuable, and fastened below, and the vessel set on fire 
with the horrid intention of destroying her with all on 
board. Captain Butman and his men succeeded in 
getting on deck through the scuttle which the pirates 
had left unsecured, and extinguished the flames, and 
returned home. Our government ordered a vessel to 
cruise in pursuit, but she gave up the chase as hopeless. 
The piratical vessel was afterwards taken on the coast 
of Africa, by Ilis Britannic Majesty’s brig Curlew, 
and destroyed, under the following circumstances: 

The Curlew arrived at St. Thomas, west coast of 
Africa, from India, with orders to cruise on that coast; 
and her commander having obtained information that 
a schooner, suspected to be a pirate, was lying in the 
river Nazareth, on the southern extremity of the coast, 
immediately sailed in pursuit, and found the schooner 
as described. The boats of the Curlew were manned 
to take possession of her, when the crew of the schoo¬ 
ner fled to the shore, with the exception of four who 
were taken prisoners. They had kindled a fire to de¬ 
stroy the schooner, and she had been stripped of every 
thing valuable. The fire was extinguished without 
damage. She had no cargo on board, but her water 
casks were all filled, and she was apparently ready 
for another cruise. In her cabin were found a com¬ 
pass, marked Boston, the flags and ensigns of different 
nations, and custom-house papers made out at Hava¬ 
na. In taking her down the river, she accidentally 
blew up, and the Curlew’s purser and one man were 
killed. The four men taken were shipped at St. Tho¬ 
mas after the robbery of the Mexican. The Curlew’s 
crew pursued the fugitives in various directions, and 
succeeded in capturing an additional number of the 
pirates; and several natives’ towns were burned by 
the Curlew’s men. The pirates had an examination 
in England before the proper authorities, when five of 
them offered to turn king’s evidence, two of whom 


294 PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN, 

were admitted to testify. They were fully commit¬ 
ted, and the British government ordered them to this 
country for trial, and the affidavits and documents 
relative to their capture and subsequent confinement 
and examination were delivered to the authorities in 
this country. 

The pirates were tried before the United States 
court at Boston, November 11th, 1834, which conti¬ 
nued for fourteen days, and resulted in the conviction 
of seven of their number, five of whom were executed 
agreeably to their sentence, the other two received a 
reprieve from the President of the United States. 

Execution of the Spanish Pirates. —[Thursday, 
June 11, 1835.]—Pursuant to previous arrangement, 
Captain Don Pedro Gibert, and Juan Montenegro, 
Manuel Castillo, Angel Garcia, and Manuel Boyga, 
were yesterday morning summoned to prepare for 
their immediate execution, agreeably to their sen¬ 
tence, for having, while belonging to the schooner 
Panda, committed piracy, by robbing the brig Mexi¬ 
can, of Salem, of twenty thousand dollars, and after¬ 
wards attempting to destroy the crew and all evi¬ 
dence of their crime, by setting fire to the vessel. It 
is understood, that, when the prisoners became tho¬ 
roughly convinced that there was no longer any 
grounds to hope for a further respite, they entered 
into a mutual agreement to commit suicide on 
Wednesday night. Angel Garcia made the first at¬ 
tempt, in the evening, by trying to open the veins 
in each arm, with a fragment of a bottle, but was dis¬ 
covered before he could effect his purpose, and a 
stricter guard was afterwards maintained upon all of 
them during the remainder of the night, and every 
thing removed with which they might be supposed to 
renew any attempt upon their own lives. Yesterday 
morning, however, about nine o’clock, while the ave¬ 
nues of the jail resounded with the heavy steps of a 
host of acting marshals, and the “ busy note of prepa- 


PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN. 295 

ration” struck solemnly upon the ears of the spectators 
within reach of its echo, Boyga succeeded in inflicting 
a deep gash on the left side of his neck with a piece 
of tin. The officer’s eye had been withdrawn from 
him scarcely a minute, before he was discovered lying 
on his pallet, with a peculiar trembling of his knees, 
which induced the officers to examine if any thing had 
suddenly happened to him. They found him covered 
with blood, and nearly insensible; medical aid was at 
hand, and the wound was immediately sewed up, but 
Boyga, who had fainted from loss of blood, never re¬ 
vived again. Two Catholic clergymen, the Rev. Mr. 
Yarella, a Spanish gentleman, and pastor of the Spa¬ 
nish congregation at New York, and the Rev, Mr. 
Curtin, of this city, were in close attendance upon the 
prisoners during the whole morning; and at a quarter 
past ten, under the escort of the Marshal and his de¬ 
puties, accompanied them to the gallows, erected on 
an insulated angle of land in the rear of the jail. 

When the procession arrived at the foot of the lad¬ 
der leading up to the platform of the gallows, the Rev. 
Mr. Yarella, looking directly at Captain Gibert, said— 
“ Spaniards, ascend to heaven.” Gibert mounted with 
a quick step, and was followed by his comrades at a 
more moderate pace, but without the least perceptible 
indication of hesitancy. Boyga, unconscious of his 
situation and destiny, was carried up in a chair, and 
seated beneath the rope prepared for him. Gibert, 
Montenegro, Garcia, and Castillo all smiled subduedly 
as they took their appointed stations on the platform. 
Judging only from Gibert’s air, carriage, and unem¬ 
barrassed eye, as he glanced at the surrounding mul¬ 
titude, and surveyed the mechanism of his shameful 
death, he might have well been mistaken for an officer 
in attendance, instead of one of the doomed. With the 
exception of repeating his prayers, after the clergyman, 
he spoke but little. Soon after he ascertained his po¬ 
sition on the stage, he left it, and passing over to the 


296 PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN, 

spot where the apparently lifeless Boyga was seated 
on the chair, he bent over his shoulder and kissed him 
very affectionately. He then resumed his station, but 
occasionally turned round to Mr. Peyton the interpret¬ 
er, and the clergymen. Addressing his followers, he 
said—“ Boys, we are going to die; but let us be firm, 
for we are innocent.” To Mr. Peyton, removing his 
linen collar, and handing it to him, he said—“ This is 
all I have to part with—take it as a keepsake. I die 
innocent, but I ’ll die like a noble Spaniard. Good 
bye, brother, we die in the hope of meeting you in 
heaven. Montenegro and Garcia, though exhibiting 
no terror, vociferated their innocence, exclaiming— 
“Americans, we are not culpable —we are innocent; 
but we forgive all who have injured us.” Castillo 
addressed himself to an individual, whom he recog¬ 
nised in the front rank of the officers below the stage, 
and said—“ Adieu, my friend—I shall see you in 
heaven—I do not care so much about dying, as to 
have the Americans think I am guilty,” [culpable.] 
All of them expressed great satisfaction at the intelli¬ 
gence of De Soto’s reprieve. 

The Marshal having read the warrant for their exe¬ 
cution, and stated that De Soto was respited for sixty 
days, and Ruiz for thirty, the ropes were adjusted 
round the necks of the prisoners, and a slight hectic 
flush spread over the countenance of each; but not 
an eye quailed, nor a limb trembled, nor a muscle 
quivered. As the cap was about to be drawn over 
Gibert’s face, the Spanish Priest fervently embraced 
him, and during the operation of covering the faces of 
the dthers, the Rev. Mr. Curtin advanced to the railing 
of the stage, and read a brief declaration on behalf of 
the prisoners, addressed to the citizens of America 
assembled, setting forth, that as at the trial they had 
declared their innocence, so did they now continue to 
do so. Boyga’s cap and rope were adjusted, as he 
sat, supported by an officer, in the chair, which was 


PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN. 29T 

so placed as to fall with the drop. At a quarter be¬ 
fore 11, after every preparation was completed, and 
while they were repeating to themselves, in scarcely 
audible tones, their prayers, Deputy Marshal Bass 
suddenly cut the small cord which restrained the 
spring, and the platform fell without even the creaking 
of a hinge. In falling, Boyga’s chair struck against 
the bodies of the Captain and Garcia. Boyga strug¬ 
gled slightly once after his descent, and Montenegro 
and Castillo but little; Capt. Gibert did not die quite so 
easily, the rope being placed behind his neck. Garcia 
struggled most and longest—about 3 minutes. After 
being suspended 30 minutes, the physicians in atten¬ 
dance pronounced them dead, and they were cut down, 
and placed in black coffins, in readiness in the yard. 

It is stated in many of the papers, that Captain Gi¬ 
bert attempted to cut his throat on Wednesday night, 
but this is not the fact. It is true that he pursued a 
line of conduct on that night which induced the officers 
to suspect that he intended to commit suicide. Mr. 
Tavers, one of the guards, who understands the Spa¬ 
nish language, overheard the signal agreed upon, by 
the whole party. The Captain proposed to write till 
one o’clock, when he was to bid “ Good bye” to the 
rest, and they were then to despatch themselves with 
pieces of glass. Accordingly, at the appointed hour, 
the Captain, having terminated his writing, destroyed 
a part of his papers, letired to a corner of his cell, and 
appeared to be arranging his person to “ die with dig¬ 
nity;” but being closely watched at the window, the 
officers, Messrs. Shute and Pierce, entered his cell be¬ 
fore he had completed his toilet. They asked him 
what he intended to do; but he was irritated by their 
undesired intrusion, and, showing temper, declined 
answering. Upon searching, they found a piece of 
glass in his pocket. They then ironed him, with his 
hands behind his back. He remained dogged in his 
disposition, and blew the light out four times, which 


298 PIRACIES ON THE BRIG MEXICAN. 

the officer as often re-lighted, and threatened to put 

his legs in irons if he persisted in putting it out. 

Montenegro, it was discovered, after his execution, 
had cut his throat in two places, and had bled very 
profusely, but had washed his shirt out in the morn¬ 
ing to conceal the attempt. It was the irritation of 
the wounds, probably, that made him hold his head 
a little awry when the rope was first put round his 
neck. He was one of the most piratical looking of 
the crew, but one of the most innocent, and was al¬ 
ways in pleasant humor. Garcia inflicted wounds 
upon his arms after he was ironed. 

Dying Declaration of the Pirates. —The Catholic 
Sentinel of Saturday contains the following decla, a- 
tion of innocence, written in Spanish by Capt. Gibert, 
and signed by his companions. The substance of it 
was delivered from the platform, a few minutes before 
their execution, by the Rev. Mr. Curtin, one of the 
Catholic clergymen in attendance:— 

“ Americans! we, the undersigned, were reduced 
to this sad and ignominious fate by misfortune, not 
by guilt. In this world we have nothing to hope; 
but in the next, we confidently expect salvation from 
the benign mercy of our heavenly Redeemer. Then, 
Americans, we declare to you with our dying breath, 
that we are innocent; and we now aver so in the 
hearing of that God before whom we must in a few 
moments appear;—but our souls will not, at that sa¬ 
cred tribunal, be charged with debasing the last act 
of our lives by the utterance of falsehood. We speak 
the solemn truth;—we are not culpable,—and we 
reiterate here, under the gallows, what we declared on 
our trial, £ that we die innocent men .’ May God forgive 
those who brought us to this fatal end, as we leave the 
world in peace with all men. Farewell, Americans. 
Angel Garcia , Manuel Boyga , 

Juan Montenegro , Manuel Castillo 

Pedro Gibert , 

































































































































































































































I« 
















Loss of the Sidney. The Crew save themselves in the Boats. 

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































INTERESTING 


AND 

AUTHENTIC NARRATIVES 

OF THE MOST 

REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 

FIRES, FAMINES, CALAMITIES, PROVIDENTIAL 
DELIVERANCES, AND LAMENTABLE 
DISASTERS ON THE SEAS, 

IN MOST FARTS OF 

THE WORLD. 


By R. THOMAS, A. M. 



Embellished with numerous plates from original designs* 


NEW. YORK : 

PUBLISHED BY EZRA STRONG. 
1837. 














Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1835, by Ezra Strong, 
in the Clerk 1 s office of the State of Connecticut. 



BOSTON* 

STEREOTYPED BY SHEPARD, OLIVER AND CO 
No. 3, Water 









THE 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 

On the Coast of Cajfraria , August 4, 1782. 

In the melancholy catalogue of human woes, few 
things appear more eminently disastrous than the gene¬ 
ral fate of the Grosvenor s crew. Shipwreck is always, 
even in its mildest form, a calamity which fills the mind 
with horror ; hut, what is instant death, compared to the 
situation of those who had hunger, thirst, and naked¬ 
ness to contend with; who only escaped the fury of the 
waves to enter into conflicts with the savages of the fo¬ 
rest, or the greater savages of the human race ; who were 
cut off from all civilized society, and felt the prolonga¬ 
tion of life to be only the lengthened pains of death? 

The Grosvenor sailed from Trinicomale, June 13th, 
1782, on her homeward bound voyage, and met with no 
memorable occurrence till the 4th of August, the fatal 
day on which she went on shore. 

During the two preceding days it had blown very 
hard, the sky was overcast, so that they were unable to 
take an observation; and it is likewise probable, that 
from their vicinity to the shore, they had been carried 
out of their course by currents. The combination of 
these circumstances may account for the error in their 
reckoning, which occasioned the loss of the ship. It ap¬ 
pears that captain Coxson had declared, a few hours 
before the disaster took place, that he computed the ship 
to be at least one hundred leagues from the nearest land, 
and this opinion lulled them into a false security. 



6 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


John Hynes, one of the survivors, being aloft with 
some others, in the night-watch, saw breakers ahead, 
and asked his companions if they did not think land 
w<as near. In this opinion they all coincided, and has¬ 
tened to inform the third mate, who was the officer 
of the watch. The infatuated young man only laugh¬ 
ed at their apprehensions; upon which one of them 
ran to the cabin to acquaint the captain, who instantly 
ordered to wear ship. But before this could be accom¬ 
plished, her keel struck with great force; in an instant 
every person on board hastened on the deck, and appre¬ 
hension and horror were impressed on every counte¬ 
nance. 

The captain endeavored to dispel the fears of the pas¬ 
sengers, and begged them to be composed. The pumps 
were sounded, but no water found in the hold, as the 
ship’s stern lay high on the rocks. In a few minutes the 
wind blew off the shore, which filled them with appre¬ 
hensions lest they should be driven out' to sea, and thus 
lose the only chance they had of escaping. The powder 
room was by this time full of water, the masts were cut 
away, without any effect, and the ship being driven 
within a cable’s length of the shore, all hopes of saving 
her vanished. 

This dismal prospect produced distraction and despair, 
and it is impossible to describe the scene that ensued. 
Those who were most composed set about forming a 
raft, hoping by means of it to convey the women, the 
children, and the sick, to land. Meanwhile three men 
attempted to swim to the shore with the deep-sea line; 
one perished in the attempt, but the other two succeeded. 
By these a hawser was, at length, carried to the shore 
and fastened round the rocks, in which operation they 
were assisted by great numbers of the natives, who had 
come down to the water’s edge to witness the uncom¬ 
mon sight. 

The raft being by this time completed, was launched 
overboard, and four men got upon it to assist the ladies; 
but they had scarcely taken their station before the haw¬ 
ser, which was fastened around it, snapped in two, by 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 7 

which accident it was Upset, and three of the men drown¬ 
ed. In this dilemma, every one began to think of the 
best means of saving himself. The yawl and jolly-boat 
had already been dashed to pieces by the violence of the 
surf; so that the only means of preservation now left 
was by the hawser made fast to the rocks, hand over 
hand. Several got safe on shore in this manner, while 
others, to the number of fifteen, perished in the difficult 
attempt. 

The ship soon separated just before the main-mast. 
The wind, at the same time, providentially shifted to 
the old quarter, and blew directly to the land; a circum¬ 
stance which contributed greatly to the preservation of 
those on board, who all got on the poop, as being near¬ 
est to the shore. The wind and surges now impelling 
them, that part of the wreck on which the people were 
rent asunder fore and aft, the deck splitting in two. In 
this distress they crowded upon the starboard quarter, 
which soon floated into shoal water, the other parts of 
the wreck breaking off those heavy seas which would 
otherwise have ingulphed x>r dashed them to pieces. 
Through this fortunate incident, all on board, even the 
ladies and children, got safe on shore, except the cook’s 
mate, a black, who, being drunk, could not be prevailed 
upon to leave the wreck. 

Before this arduous business was well effected night 
came on, and the natives having retired, several fires 
were lighted with fuel from the wreck, and the whole 
company supped on such provisions as they picked up 
on the shore. Two tents were formed of sails that had 
drifted to the shore, and in these the ladies were left to 
repose, while the men wandered about in search of such 
articles as might be of service. 

On the morning of the 5th, the natives returned, and, 
without ceremony, carried off whatever suited their 
fancy. This conduct excited a thousand apprehensions, 
particularly in the minds of the females, for their personal 
safety; but observing that the savages contented them¬ 
selves with plunder, their fears were somewhat allayed. 

The next day was employed in collecting together all 


8 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the articles that might be useful in their journey to the 
Cape, to which they imprudently resolved to direct their 
course; a resolution which involved them in compli¬ 
cated misery, and which can be justified by no wise prin¬ 
ciple. From the wreck they might easily have built a 
vessel capable of containing them all, and by coasting 
along, they might have reached the nearest of the Dutch 
settlements with half the danger or risk to which they 
were then exposing themselves. Distress, however, 
sometimes deprives men of all presence of mind; so the 
crew of the Grosvenor, having just escaped the dangers 
of the sea, appear to have considered land as the most 
desirable alternative, without reflecting on the almost 
insuperable obstacles that lay in their way. 

On examining their stores, they found themselves in 
possession of two casks of flour and a tub of pork, that had 
ieen washed on the beach, and some arrack, which the 
captain prudently ordered to be staved, lest the natives 
should get at it, and by intoxication increase their natu¬ 
ral ferocity. 

Captain Coxson now called together the survivors, and 
having divided the provisions among them, asked if they 
consented to his continuing in the command, to which 
they unanimously agreed. He then informed them, that 
from the best calculation he could make, he was in 
hopes of being able to reach some of the Dutch settle¬ 
ments in fifteen or sixteen days. In this calculation the 
captain was probably not much mistaken. Subsequent 
observations prove that the Grosvenor must have been 
wrecked between the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth 
degrees of south latitude; and as the Dutch colonies ex¬ 
tend beyond the thirty-first degree, they might have 
accomplished the journey within the time specified, had 
not rivers intervened and retarded their progress. 

Every thing being arranged, they set out on their 
journey on the seventh, leaving behind only an old East- 
India soldier, who, being lame, preferred trusting him¬ 
self to the natives till some more favorable opportunity 
of getting away should present itself; adding, that he 
might as well die with them as end his life on the way 
with pain and hunger. 


Wreck of the Grosvenor. Page 6 . 











































































































































































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LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


9 


As they moved forward they were followed by some 
of the natives, while others remained at the wreck. 
Those who accompanied them plundered them, from time 
to time, of whatever they liked, and sometimes threw 
stones at them. After proceeding a few miles, they were 
met by a party of about thirty of the natives, whose hair 
was fastened up in a comical form, and their faces paint¬ 
ed red. Among these was a man who spoke Dutch, 
who, it afterwards appeared, was a runaway slave from 
the Cape, on account of some crimes, and was named 
Trout. When this man came up to the English he in¬ 
quired who they were, and whither they were going. 
Finding by their answers that they had been cast away, 
he informed them, that their intended journey to the 
Cape would be attended with unspeakable difficulties 
from the natives, the wild beasts, and the nature of the 
country through which they would have to pass. 

Though this did not contribute to raise their spirits they 
tried to engage him as a guide, but no arguments could 
prevail upon him to comply with their wishes. Find¬ 
ing all their solicitations fruitless, they pursued their 
journey for four or five days, during which they were 
constantly surrounded by the natives, who took from 
them whatever they pleased, but invariably retired on 
the approach of night. 

As they proceeded they saw many villages, which 
they carefully avoided, that they might be less exposed 
to the insults of the natives. At length they came to a 
deep gully, where they were met by three Cafires, armed 
with lances, which they held several times to the cap¬ 
tain’s throat. Irritated beyond all patience by their con¬ 
duct, he wrenched one of the lances from their hands 
and broke it. Of this the natives seemed to take no no¬ 
tice, and went away; but the next day, on coming to a 
large village, they there found the three men, with three 
or four hundred of their countrymen, all armed with 
lances and targets. As the English advanced they were 
stopped by these people, who began to pilfer and insult 
them, and at last fell upon and beat them. 

Conceiving that it was the intention of the natives to 


10 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


kill them, they formed a resolution to defend themselves 
to the last extremity. Accordingly, placing the women, 
the children, and the sick at some distance, the remain¬ 
der, to the number of eighty or ninety, engaged their op¬ 
ponents in a kind of running fight for upwards of two 
hours, when our countrymen, gaining an eminence, where 
they could not be surrounded, a kind of parley took place. 
In this unfortunate encounter many were wounded on 
both sides, but none killed. After a pacification had 
taken place, the English cut the buttons from their 
coats, and presented them to the natives, upon which 
they went away and returned no more. 

The following night they were terrified with the noise 
of wild beasts, so that the men were obliged to keep 
watch to prevent their too near approach. What a 
dreadful situation, especially for females of delicate ha¬ 
bits, and so lately possessing all the luxuries that eastern 
refinement could afford! 

When morning arrived they were again joined by 
Trout, who had been on board the wreck, and had load¬ 
ed himself with various articles of iron and copper, which 
he was carrying to his habitation. He cautioned them 
against making any resistance in future, for as they were 
not furnished with any weapons of defence, opposition 
would only tend to irritate the natives and increase ob¬ 
structions. With this advice he left them. 

Having made some progress during the day, they 
agreed to pass the night near a deep gully, but were so 
disturbed by the howlings of wild beasts that they could 
get but little sleep. Though a large fire was kept up to 
intimidate these unwelcome visiters, they came so near 
as to occasion a general alarm. 

The next day, as they were advancing, a party of na¬ 
tives came down upon them, and plundered them, among 
other things, of their tinder-box, flint, and steel, which 
proved an irreparable loss. They were now obliged to 
carry with them a firebrand by turns, the natives fol¬ 
lowing them until it was almost dark. At length they 
came to a small river, where they' determined to stop 
during the night. Before the natives retired they be- 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


11 


eame more insolent than ever, robbing the gentlemen of 
their watches, and the ladies of the diamonds which they 
had secreted in their hair. Opposition was in vain; the 
attempt to resist these outrages being productive of fresh 
insults, and even blows. 

The following day they crossed the river. Here their 
provisions being nearly expended, and the delay and fa¬ 
tigue occasioned by travelling with the women and chil¬ 
dren being very great, the sailors began to murmur, and 
each seemed resolved to shift for himself. Accordingly 
the captain, with Mr. Logie, the first mate, and his wife, 
the third mate, colonel James and lady, Mr. and Mrs. 
Ilosea, Mr. Newman, a passenger, the purser, the sur¬ 
geon, and five of the children, agreed to keep together, 
and travel as before; many of the sailors were also pre¬ 
vailed upon to attend them, by the liberal promises of 
the passengers. 

On the other hand, Mr. Shaw, the second mate, Mr. 
Trotter, the fourth, Mr. Harris, the fifth, captain Talbot, 
Messrs. Williams and Taylor, M. D’Espinette, several 
other gentlemen, and their servants, together with a num¬ 
ber of the seamen, in all forty-three persons, among 
whom was Hynes, from whom much information was 
afterwards obtained, resolved to hasten forward. A 
young gentleman of the name of Law, seven or eight 
years of age, crying after one of the passengers, they 
agreed to take him with them, and to carry him by turns 
when tired. 

This separation was equally fatal, cruel, and impolitic; 
however, the second male’s party having been stopped 
by a river, they once more joined with great satisfaction, 
and travelled in company the whole of that day and part 
of the next. 

They now arrived at a large village, where they found 
Trout, who introduced his wife and child to them, and 
begged a piece of pork. He informed them that this 
was his residence, and repeated his former declaration, 
that the natives would not suffer him to depart, even if 
he were inclined to return to his own country. He, 
however, communicated various articles of information 


12 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


relative to their journey, for which they made due ac¬ 
knowledgments ; but it is to be lamented that he could 
not be induced to extend his services, or rather that his 
crimes and character rendered him dangerous to be 
trusted, and fearful of trusting himself among Chris¬ 
tians. 

During their conversation with Trout, the natives 
surrounded them in numbers, and continued to follow 
them till dusk. The two companies passed the night 
together, but that distress, which ought to have been 
the bond of unity, was unfortunately perverted into an 
occasion for disaffection and complaint. 

Their provisions running very short, a party went 
down to the sea-side to seek for shell-fish on the rocks, 
and found a considerable quantity of oysters, muscles, 
and limpets. These were divided among the women, 
the children, and the sick; for the tide happening to come 
in before they had collected a sufficient stock, some of 
the wretched troop were obliged to put up with a very 
scanty allowance. After a repast which rather excited 
than gratified their appetites, they continued their march, 
and about noon reached a small village, where an old 
man approached them, armed with a lance, which he 
levelled, making at the same time a noise somewhat 
resembling the report of a musket. From this circum¬ 
stance, it is probable, he was acquainted with the use 
of fire-arms, and apprehended they would kill his cattle, 
for he immediately drove his herd into the kraall; an 
inclosure, where they are always secured upon the ap¬ 
pearance of danger, and during the night. The old 
man took no farther notice of the English, but they were 
followed by some of the other inhabitants of the village, 
who behaved extremely ill. ** 

The final separation now took place; they parted to 
meet no more. In adopting this resolution they appear 
to have been influenced by motives which had, at least, 
the specious appearance of reason. They conceived, 
that by pursuing different routes, and travelling in small 
parties, they should be less the object of jealousy to the 
natives, and could the more easily procure subsistence. 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIA MAN. 


13 


To counterbalance these advantages, however, they lost 
that unity of action, that systematic direction, which a 
prudent superior can communicate to those under his 
care; and by rejecting established authority, they soon 
split into parties, guided only by caprice, and swayed 
by temporary views. After all, they did not part with¬ 
out evincing those emotions so honorable to human na¬ 
ture : their misfortunes had, in some measure, levelled 
distinctions, and the services of the lowest were regarded 
as tokens of friendship, not expressions of duty. 

From this period the fate of the captain, and his asso¬ 
ciates, is almost wholly unknown. But imagination 
cannot form a scene of deeper distress than what the 
delicate and tender sex, and the innocent children, must 
have experienced. From the accounts of some of the 
party who survived their distresses, and subsequent in¬ 
quiries, it is probable, that the hand of death soon re¬ 
leased them from their accumulated ills; though the 
public mind was long harassed with the belief that a 
few had been doomed to worse than death among the 
natives. 

The separation being decided upon, the party which 
had attached itself to the second mate travelled till it 
was quite dark, when, arriving at a convenient spot, they 
kindled a fire and reposed for the night. 

Next day they proceeded, as they conjectured, thirty 
miles ; and though they saw great numbers of the na¬ 
tives they received from them not the least molestation. 
Towards the close of the day they reached an extensive 
wood, and being fearful of entering it, lest they might 
lose their way, they spent a restless night on its verge, 
being terribly alarmed by the howlings of wild beasts. 

They continued their route the following day till noon, 
without any other food than wild sorrel and such berries 
as they observed the birds to peck at. None of the na¬ 
tives made their appearance. The wanderers, having 
reached a point of the rocks, found some shell-fish, and 
after refreshing themselves they advanced till they came 
to the banks of a large river, where they reposed. 

Next morning, finding the river very broad and deep, 
2 


14 


REMARKAEI/E SHIPWRECKS. 


I 


and several of the company being unable to swim, they 
resolved to follow its windings, and seek some place 
where it was fordable. In their way they passed many 
villages, the inhabitants of which were too much alarm¬ 
ed to yield them any assistance. Pursuing the course 
of the river a considerable way, and not finding it be¬ 
come narrower, they determined to construct catamarans, 
a kind of raft, in order to cross it. This being effected, 
with such materials as they found on the banks, those 
who could not swim were placed upon the float, which 
!>eing impelled by the others, they all crossedit in safety, 
though the river was computed to be not less than two 
i niles over. 

It was now three days since they had left the sea, and 
during that period they had scarcely taken any nou- 
i ishment but water and a little wild sorrel. They there¬ 
fore again directed their course to the shore, where they 
were fortunate enough to find abundance of shell-fish, 
which afforded them a very seasonable refreshment. 

After following the trendings of the coast for three or 
four days, during which the natives suffered them to 
pass without molestation, penetrating a pathless wood, 
where, perhaps, no human being ever trod, uncertain 
which way to proceed, incommoded by the heat, and ex¬ 
hausted by the fatigues of their march, they were almost 
ready to sink, when they reached the summit of a hill. 
Here they rested, and had the satisfaction to see a spa¬ 
cious plain before them, through which a fine stream 
meandered. As the wild beasts, however, were accus¬ 
tomed, in their nocturnal prowlings, to resort to this place 
for water, the situation of the 'travellers was perilous, 
and subject to continual alarms. 

In the morning one of the party ascended a lofty tree 
co observe the trendings of the coast, after which they 
resumed their course, and entered another wood iust as 
the night set in. Having passed it by paths which the 
wild beasts alone had made, they again reached the sea- 
coast. Here they made fires, which, after the fatigues 
they had undergone, was a toilsome business, and threw 
lido them the oysters they had collected, to make them 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. jjj 

open, as they had not a single knife remaining among 
them. ()n this spot they reposed, but found no water. 

Next day, the wanderers, in the course of their jour¬ 
ney, had the good fortune to discover a dead whale, 
which sight in their present situation afforded them no 
little satisfaction. The want of a 'knife to cut it up pre¬ 
vented them from taking full advantage of this acciden¬ 
tal supply; some of them, though in the extremity of 
hunger, nauseated this food: while others, making a 
fire on the carcass, dug out the part thus roasted, with 
oyster-shells, and made a hearty meal. 

A fine, level country now presented itself, the sight <*f 
which caused them to believe that their fatigues were 
near a termination, and that they had reached the north¬ 
ernmost part of the Dutch colonies. Here new dissen¬ 
sions arose, seme advising that they should penetrate in¬ 
land; while others persevered in the original plan of 
keeping in the vicinity of the sea-coast 

After many disputes another division of the party took 
place. Mr. Shaw, the fourth mate, Mr. Harris, the fiftlu 
Messrs. Williams and Taylor, captain Talbot, and sea¬ 
men, to the number of twenty-two persons, among whom 
was Hynes, the reporter, resolved to proceed inland. The 
carpenter, the ship's steward, M. D’Espinette, M. Olivier, 
with about twenty-four seamen, continued to follow the 
shore. 

The party which took the interior proceeded for three 
days through a very pleasant country, where they saw 
a great number of deserted kraals. During this time they 
had nothing to subsist on but a few oysters, which they 
carried with them, and some berries and wild sorrel 
gathered on the way. The effects of hunger soon com¬ 
pelled them to return to the coast, where, as usual,'they 
found a supply of shell-fish. As they were proceeding 
up a steep hill, soon after their separation, captain Tal¬ 
bot complained of great lassitude, and repeatedly sat 
down to rest himself. The company several times in¬ 
dulged him by doing the same; but perceiving that he 
was quite exhausted, they went on, leaving him and his 
faithful servant, Blair, sitting beside each other, and 
neither of them was heard of any more. 


16 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Having reposed near the shore, the next day, about 
noon, they arrived at a small river, where they found 
two of the carpenter’s party, who, being unable to swim, 
had been left behind. The joy of these poor creatures, 
at the sight of their comrades, was excessive. They 
were preserved since they had been in this place almost 
by a miracle, for while they were gathering shell-fish 
on the beach their fire went out, so that it was wonder¬ 
ful how they escaped being devoured by the wild beasts. 

They were with difficulty got over the river, and 
travelling on for four days more the party came to ano¬ 
ther river, of such breadth that none of them would at¬ 
tempt to pass it. Having no alternative, they marched 
along its banks in hopes of finding a practicable passage, 
and arrived at a village, where the natives showed them 
the inside of a watch, which some of the carpenter’s 
party had given for a little milk. Mr. Shaw conceiving 
that such a traffic would not be unacceptable, offered 
them the inside of his watch for a calf. To these terms 
they assented, but no sooner had they obtained posses¬ 
sion of the price than they withheld the calf, which was 
immediately driven out of the village. 

They continued their march along the river for seve¬ 
ral days, and passed through several villages without 
molestation from the inhabitants, till they came to a part 
where they conceived they should be able to cross. Hav¬ 
ing constructed a catamaran, as before, they all passed 
the river in safety, excepting the two who had been 
left behind by the carpenter’s party, and who were 
afraid to venture. These unfortunate men were never 
seen afterwards. 

Having gained the opposite bank, the company now 
proceeded, in an oblique direction, towards the shore, 
which they reached about noon on the third day. The 
next morning, at the ebbing of the tide, they procured 
some shell-fish, and having refreshed themselves, they 
pursued their journey. 

In the course of that day’s march they fell in with a 
party of the natives, belonging, as they imagined, to a 
new nation, by whom they were beaten, and extremely 


LOSS OF THIS GROSVENOR 1NDIAMAN. 


17 


ill treated. To avoid their persecutions they concealed 
themselves in the woods till the savages had retired, 
when they assembled again and resumed their march, 
They had not proceeded far before they perceived th 3 
prints of human feet in the sand, from which they con¬ 
cluded that their late companions were before them. 
In the hope of rejoining them they traced their supposed 
footsteps for a while, but soon lost them among the rocks 
and grass. 

After some time they came to another river, not 
very broad, but of considerable depth, which they 
passed in safety on a catamaran, as before. Nothing re¬ 
markable occurred during the three following days ; but 
at the expiration of that period they overtook the carpen¬ 
ter’s party, whose sufferings they found had been even 
more severe than their own. The carpenter himself had 
been poisoned by eating some kind of fruit, with the na¬ 
ture of which he was unacquainted: M. D’Espinette and 
M. Olivier, worn out with famine and fatigue, had been 
left to their fate. The unfortunate little traveller, Law, 
was still with them, and had hitherto supported every 
hardship in an astonishing manner. 

Thus once more united they proceeded together tilt 
they came to a sandy beach, where they found a 
couple of planks with a spike nail in each. This con¬ 
vinced them that some European ships had been neai 
the coast, or that they were in the vicinity of some set¬ 
tlement. The nails were prizes of the first consequence; 
these, being flattened between two stones, were shaped 
into something like knives, and, to men in their situation, 
were considered a most valuable acquisition. 

In a short time they came to another river, on whose 
banks they accidentally found fresh water, which induc¬ 
ed them to rest there for the night. In the morning they 
crossed the river, and on examining the sea-shore they 
found another dead whale, which diffused a general joy, 
till a large party of natives, armed with lances, came 
down upon them. These people, however, perceiving 
the deplorable condition of the travellers, conducted 
themselves in such a pacific manner as to dispel their 
2 # 


18 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


apprehensions. One of them even lent those who were 
employed upon the whale his lance, by means of which, 
and their two knives, they cut it into junks, and carried 
off a considerable quantity, till they could find wood and 
water to dress it. 

On coming to a river the following day, another of the 
party drooped, and they were under the cruel necessity 
of leaving him behind. Having plenty of provisions, they 
now proceeded four days without intermission, and pro¬ 
curing a stick, they set about making a kind of calendar, 
by cutting a notch for every day; but, in crossing a river, 
this register of time was lost, and the care they had taken 
to compute their melancholy days was of no avail. 

They soon reached a new river, where they halted 
for the night. The frequent impediments of rivers much 
retarded their progress. Pew of these, however, are of 
very great magnitude at any distance from the,sea; but 
as the travellers derived all their subsistence from the 
watery element, they were obliged to submit to the in¬ 
convenience of passing them in general where the tide 
flowed. This will account for difficulties, from which, 
had it been practicable, a more inland course would have 
exempted them. 

As the weather was very unfavorable next morning, 
some of the company were afraid to cross the river, upon 
which Hynes, and about ten more, being impatient to 
proceed, swam across, leaving the rest, among whom 
was master Law, behind them. Having gained the op¬ 
posite shore, they proceeded till they came to a place 
where they met with shell-fish, wood, and water. Here 
they halted two days, in expectation of the arrival of the 
others; but as it still blew fresh, they concluded that 
their more timorous companions had not ventured to 
cross the river ; therefore thinking it in vain to wait any 
longer, they went forward. 

They had not travelled many hours before they had 
the good fortune to discover a dead seal on the beach. 
One of the knives being in possession of this party, they 
cut up their prey, dressed part of the flesh on the spot, 
and carried the rest with them. 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOit INDIAMAN. 


19 


The next morning the party left behind overtook them. 
It was now conducted by the ship’s steward, and in the 
interval from the recent separation it appeared that they 
had suffered extremely from the natives, from hunger, 
and fatigue, and that five of them were no more. Thus 
these unfortunate men were rapidly losing some of their 
body; yet the reflection of their forlorn condition did not 
rouse them to the good effects of unanimity, which 
alone, had it been either a permanent principle, or en¬ 
forced by an authority to which they ought to have sub¬ 
mitted, might have saved them many distresses, and 
would have tended to the preservation of numbers. Con¬ 
cord is always strength; the contrary, even in the happi¬ 
est circumstances, is weakness and ruin. 

Having shared the remainder of the seal among them, 
and taken some repose, they again proceeded in one 
body, and after some time came to a lofty mountain, 
which it was necessary to cross, or go round the bluff 
point of a rock on which the surf beat with great vio¬ 
lence. The latter appearing to be much the shortest 
passage, they chose it, but had reason to repent their 
determination, as they had a miraculous escape with 
their lives. Some of them not only lost their provisions, 
but their firebrands, which they had hitherto carefully 
carried with them, were extinguished by the waves. 

Dispirited by this essential loss, which was their chief 
protection from the wild beasts, they felt the misery of 
their situation with aggravated force, and an additional 
gloom clouded their future prospects. Marching along 
in this disconsolate mood, they fell in with some female 
natives, who immediately fled. When the travellers 
came up to the spot where these women had been first 
descried, they had the satisfaction to find that the fire 
on which they had been dressing muscles was not extin¬ 
guished. With joy they lighted their brands, and after 
a few hours’ repose pursued their course. 

Next day they arrived at a village, where the natives 
offered to barter a young bullock with them. The in¬ 
side of a watch, some buttons, and other trifles, were 
offered and readily accepted in exchange; the beast be- 


20 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ing delivered up, was despatched by the lance of one of 
the natives. The Caffres were pleased to receive back 
the entrails, and the carcass being divided in the most 
impartial manner, our people took up their abode for 
that night near the village, and the next morning passed 
another river on a catamaran. 

The bullock was the only sustenance they had hitherto 
received from the natives, by barter or favor, excepting 
that the women sometimes gave the poor child who ac¬ 
companied them some milk. Among the most barba¬ 
rous nations, the females, to the honor of their sex, are 
always found to be comparatively humane, and never 
was there a more just object of commiseration than mas¬ 
ter Law. Hitherto he had got on tolerably well, through 
the benevolent attention of his companions. He walked 
when able, and when tired they carried him in turn 
without a murmur. None ever obtained any food with¬ 
out allowing him a share. When the rest were collect¬ 
ing shell-fish he was left to watch the fire, and on their 
return he participated in the spoils. 

They now entered a sandy desert, which they were 
ten days in passing. In this desolate tract they had 
many rivers to pass; and had it not been for the supply 
of food they carried with them, they must all have pe¬ 
rished. However, they had wood in abundance, seldom 
failed to find water by digging in the sand, and being 
safe from the apprehensions of the natives, this appears 
to have been the most pleasant part of their journey. 

Having crossed the desert, they entered the territories 
of a new nation, by whom they were sometimes mal¬ 
treated, and at others were suffered to pass without mo¬ 
lestation. Being now on the borders of the ocean, they 
fell in with a party of the natives, who, by signs, ad¬ 
vised them to go inland; and complying with their di¬ 
rections, they soon arrived at a village, where they found 
only women and children. The women brought out a 
little milk, which they gave to master Law. It was 
contained in a small basket, curiously formed of rushes, 
and so compact as to hold any kind of liquid. Here 
they had an opportunity of examining several huts, and 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


21 


observed the mode in which the natives churn their but¬ 
ter. The milk is put into a leather bag, which is sus¬ 
pended in the middle of the tent, and pushed backward 
and forward by two persons, till the butter arrives at a 
proper consistence. When thus prepared, they mix it 
with soot, and anoint themselves with the composition, 
which proves a defence against the intense heat of the 
climate, and renders their limbs uncommonly pliant and 
active. 

While the travellers were resting themselves, the men 
belonging to the village returned from hunting, each 
bearing upon the point of his spear a piece of deer’s 
flesh. They formed a ring round the strangers, and 
seemed to gaze on them with admiration. After having 
satisfied their curiosity, they produced two bowls of milk, 
which they appeared willing to barter; but as our wretch¬ 
ed countrymen had nothing to give in exchange, they 
drank it up themselves. 

Scarcely had they finished their meal, when they all 
rose up, and in an instant went off into the woods, leav¬ 
ing the English under some apprehensions as to the 
cause of this sudden motion. In a short time, however, 
they returned with a deer, and though our people ear¬ 
nestly entreated to be permitted to partake of the spoil, 
the natives not only disregarded their solicitations, but 
likewise insisted on their quitting the kraal. This they 
were obliged to comply with, and after walking a few 
miles they lay down to rest. 

Fcr several days they pursued their journey without 
any remarkable occurrence. They frequently fell in 
with the natives, who had great numbers of oxen, but 
they would part with nothing without a return, which 
was not in the power of the travellers to make. They 
had, however, the negative satisfaction of not being an¬ 
noyed in their progress. They now came to another 
river, where they saw three or four huts, containing only 
women and children. The flesh of sea-cows and sea- 
lions was hanging up to dry, of which the women gave 
the travellers a part. They slept that night at a small 
distance from these huts. 


22 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Next morning, Hynes and nine others swam across 
the river, but the rest were too timorous to make the 
attempt. Those who had crossed the river soon after¬ 
wards had the good fortune to observe a seal asleep, just 
at high-water mark, and having cut off his retreat, they 
found means to kill him. Having divided the flesh, they 
travelled four or five days, occasionally falling in with 
the natives, who, upon the whole, behaved with tolerable 
forbearance. 

They now arrived at another river, which they were 
obliged to cross, and proceeding on their route, the next 
day found a whale; and thus being well supplied with 
provisions they resolved to halt for their companions; 
but after waiting in vain two days they proceeded with¬ 
out them. They afterwards found that their compa¬ 
nions had taken a more inland route, and had got be¬ 
fore them. Having, therefore, cut up as much of the 
whale as they could carry, and being much refreshed, 
they proceeded with alacrity, having now no necessity 
to loiter in quest of food. 

Thus they travelled for more than a week, and in 
their way discovered some pieces of rags, which satisfied 
them that their late associates had got the start of them. 
They now entered an extensive sandy desert, and find¬ 
ing, towards the close of the first day, but little prospect of 
obtaining either wood or water, they were much disheart¬ 
ened. To their joy, however, at the entrance of a deep 
gully they saw the following words traced on the sand: 
Turn in here and you will find plenty of wood and water. 
This cheered them like a revelation from heaven, and on 
entering the gully they found the notification verified, 
and the remains of several fires, which assured them 
that their late companions had reposed in the same place. 

They proceeded several days, proportionably exhaust¬ 
ed with fatigue as they advanced, but without any 
memorable occurrence. They now came to a bluff point 
of a rock, which projected so far into the sea as to ob¬ 
struct their progress, so that they were obliged to direct 
their course more inland. To add to their distress, their 
provisions were again exhausted, when, arriving at a 


LOSS OP THE GROSVENOR 1NDIAMAN. 23 

large pond, they luckily found a number of land-crabs, 
snails, and some sorrel in the vicinity, and on these they 
made a satisfactory meal. 

As soon as it dawned they resumed their journey, and 
entering a wood, they observed many of the trees tom 
up by the roots. While they were lost in amazement at 
this phenomenon, to their terror and astonishment thirty 
or forty large elephants started up out of the long grass, 
with which the ground was covered. The travellers 
stood some moments in suspense, whether they would 
retreat or advance; but, by taking a circuitous course, 
they passed these enormous creatures without any 
injury. The grass in which they lay was not less than 
eight or nine feet high. This may appear strange to 
those who are not acquainted with the luxuriant vege¬ 
tation of tropical climates, but other travellers, of un¬ 
questionable veracity, have made the same remarks on 
Africa. 

Having reached the sea-shore that night, our travel¬ 
lers were miserably disappointed by the state of the 
tide, which deprived them of their usual supplies of 
shell-fish. To such extremities were they, in conse¬ 
quence, reduced, that some of them, who had made 
shoes of the hide of the bullock obtained in barter from 
the natives, singed o/T the hair, broiled and eat them. 
This unsavory dish they rendered as palatable as possi¬ 
ble by means of some wild celery they found on the spot, 
and the whole party partook of it. 

At low water they went as usual to the rocks to pro¬ 
cure shell-fish; and as they proceeded they often per¬ 
ceived evident traces of that division of their party which 
had got the start of them. In two days’ time they fell in 
with a hunting party of the natives, who offered no mo¬ 
lestation to our people as they passed, and for several 
days they everywhere behaved with the same forbear¬ 
ance. 

After passing two rivers, and finding no fresh water 
near them, they entered a sterile country, where the na¬ 
tives appeared to have nothing to subsist on but what 
they derived from hunting and fishing. What then 


24 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


must have been the situation of our travellers! They 
had not a drop of water for several days; and a few 
berries which they occasionally picked up were the 
only alleviation of their burning thirst. However, they 
soon reached Caffraria, properly so called, which they 
found to be a fine and populous country. 

During their march through this territory our travel¬ 
lers were absolutely starving in the midst of plenty. 
They saw abundance of cattle, but so tenacious were 
the natives of their property, that they would not part 
with any thing gratuitously, and our people had nothing 
to give in barter. So apprehensive were the Cadres, 
lest these poor vagrants might commit depredations, 
that they constantly secured their cattle as they ap¬ 
proached, and even used violence to keep them at a dis¬ 
tance. So true it is that in all countries poverty is con¬ 
sidered rather as a crime than a misfortune, and that he 
who has nothing to bestow is immediately suspected 
of an intention to take away. 

But the CafFres have been characterized as a humane 
and inoffensive people. How are we then to reconcile 
this description with the conduct they displayed to our 
countrymen ? May not the idea, that they were Dutch¬ 
men, solve the difficulty ? Between the Caffres and the 
Dutch colonists an inveterate enmity subsisted at that 
period. The Caffres had been treated with unparalleled 
cruelty and oppression by the white people, with whom 
they were conversant; all white people were, therefore, 
probably regarded as enemies. Among uncivilized na¬ 
tions, wherever any intercourse has been established 
with Europeans, the characters of the latter, in general, 
have been determined from the conduct of a worthless 
few. Thus, as on other important occasions, many suf¬ 
fer for the vices of individuals. 

Our travellers, everywhere repelled, or regarded with 
apprehension, at length came to a river, and having 
crossed it, were met by a party of the natives, one of 
whom had adorned his hair with a piece of a silver 
buckle, which was known to have belonged to the ship’s 
cook. It seems the cook, who set a particular value up- 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 25 

on his buckles, had covered them with bits of cloth, to 
conceal them from the natives; but at length hunger 
had compelled him to break them up, in order to barter 
them for food: but no sooner was the price deposited 
than the natives broke their engagement, as had been 
their general practice, except in one solitary instance, and 
drove the claimants away. 

Hynes and his party were roughly handled by the na¬ 
tives they had fallen in with. To avoid their persecu¬ 
tion, they travelled till late at night, and after reposing 
for a few hours, they recommenced their journey before 
it was light, that they might escape a repetition of their 
ill treatment. 

Next day, ‘about noon, they reached a spot where there 
was good water, and a probability of finding an abun¬ 
dance of shell-fish; here, being much fatigued, they de¬ 
termined to spend the night. While in this situation 
they were overtaken by a tremendous storm of thunder 
and lightning, and the rain poured down in such tor¬ 
rents that they were obliged to hold up their canvass 
frocks over the fire to save it from being extinguished. 
Next day, at low water, they found shell-fish, as usual, 
staid some time to dry their clothes, and then resumed 
their journey. Coming to a large village the inhabitants 
fell upon them with such fury, that several of them were 
wounded, in consequence of which, one man died soon 
afterwards. Hynes received a wound in his leg from a 
lance, and being knocked down, was left senseless on 
the spot by his companions, who supposed him to be 
dead. However, in a few hours, to their great joy, he 
rejoined his countrymen, who had despaired of ever see¬ 
ing him again. 

Prom this time they lost sight of the habitations of the 
natives, and entered a sandy desert, where it was with 
the utmost difficulty they could procure any sustenance. 
At intervals, indeed, they experienced the usual bounty 
of the sea, and having collected as many shell-fish as 
possible, they opened them in the fire, and taking out 
the animal, left the shells, which greatly diminished the 
labor of carriage. 

3 


26 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Having passed the desert, they arrived at a large 
river, which, as they afterwards learned from the Dutch, 
is called Bosjesman’s' river. Here they found Thomas 
Lewis, one of the party which had gone before them, 
who, having been taken ill, was abandoned to his fate. 
He informed them that he had travelled inland and seen 
many huts, at one of which he obtained a little milk, 
and at another was beaten away. He added, that hav¬ 
ing reached the place where he now was, he found him-. 
self too weak to cross the river, and was, therefore, de¬ 
termined to return to the nearest kraal, indifferent as to 
his reception or his life. In vain his companions strove 
to overcome this determination. They flattered him 
with the hope of yet being able to reach the Cape, but 
their encouragement was ineffectual. Both his body 
and mind were broken down; he had drained the cup 
of affliction to the dregs ; despair had laid her iron hand 
upon him, and sealed him for her own. In spite of all 
their entreaties he went back to the natives, and once 
more had the good fortune to receive assistance, when 
he could least of all expect it, and in such a shape as 
proved effectual to his preservation. But we are antici¬ 
pating events. 

' On exploring the sea-coast, our people, to their great 
joy, discovered another whale, and having cut the flesh 
into junks, took with them as much of it as they were 
able to carry. Again losing sight of the natives and 
their huts, they were kept in perpetual alarm by the 
wild beasts, which were here more numerous than in 
any part of the country through which they had hitherto 
passed. 

On the fourth day, after passing the river, they over¬ 
took the ship’s steward and master Law, who still sur¬ 
vived inexpressible hardships. From them they learned 
that the cooper had been buried the preceding evening 
in the sand ; buF when Hynes and the steward went to 
take a farewell view of the spot, they found, to their sur¬ 
prise and horror, that the body had' been carried off by 
some carnivorous animal, which had evidently dragged 
it to a considerable distance. 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 27 

Hynes’ party presented the steward and child with 
some of the flesh of the whale, by which they were much 
refreshed; and for eight or ten days more they all pro¬ 
ceeded in company. At length they came to a point of 
rocks, and as the whale was by this time wholly con¬ 
sumed, they went round the edge in search of such sus¬ 
tenance as the sea might afford. This took up so much 
time that they were obliged to sleep on the rock, where 
they could procure no water but what was very brackish. 
In the morning the steward and child were both taken 
ill, and being unable to proceed, the party agreed to halt 
till the next day. The extreme coldness of the rock on 
which they had slept produced a sensible effect on them 
all: the steward and child still continued very ill. Their 
companions, therefore, agreed to wait another day, when, 
if no favorable turn took place, they would be under the 
painful necessity of abandoning them to their fate. But 
their humanity was not put to this severe test, for in the 
course of the following night this poor child resigned 
his breath, and ceased any longer to share their fatigues 
and sorrows. They had left him, as they supposed, 
asleep, near the fire round which they had all rested 
during the night; but when they had made their ar¬ 
rangements for breakfast, and wished to call him to 
participate, they found that his soul had taken its flight 
to another world. 

Forgetting their own misery they sensibly felt for the 
loss of this tender youth, and the affliction of the stew¬ 
ard in particular was inexpressible. This child had 
been the object of his fondest care, during a long and 
perilous journey, and it was with the utmost difficulty 
that his companions could tear him from the spot. 

They had not proceeded far before one of the party 
asked for a shell of water, which being given him, he 
solicited a second, and as soon as he had drunk it, lay 
down and instantly expired. So much were they ha¬ 
bituated to scenes of distress, that, by this time, death 
had ceased to be regarded as shocking ; it was even con¬ 
sidered by them as a consummation rather to be wished 
for than dreaded. They left the poor man where he drop- 


23 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ped, and had not advanced far, when another complain¬ 
ed of extreme weakness, and sat down upon the sand by 
the sea-side. Him too they left, compelled by severe 
necessity, in order to seek for wood and water, pro¬ 
mising, if they were successful, to return to assist him. 

Having sought in vain for a comfortable resting-place 
for the night, they were all obliged to repose on the 
sands. Recollecting the situation of their comrade, one 
of the party went back to the spot where he had been 
left, but the unhappy man was not to be found; and as 
he had nothing to shelter or protect him, it is more than 
probable that he was carried off by wUd beasts. 

With the first approach of day they resumed their 
journey, but their situation was now more deplorable 
than ever. Having had no water since the middle of 
the preceding day, they suffered exceedingly from thirst, 
the glands of their throats and their mouths were much 
swollen; and in the extremity of thirst they were in¬ 
duced to swallow their own urine. 

This was the crisis of calamity. The misery they 
now underwent was too shocking to relate. Having 
existed for two days without food or water, they were 
reduced to such an extremity that when any of them 
could not furnish himself with a draught of urine, he 
would borrow a shell full of his more fortunate compa¬ 
nion till he was able to repay it. The steward, whose 
benevolence ought to immortalize his memory, now fol¬ 
lowed his little favorite to another world. In short, to 
such a state of wretchedness were they now reduced, 
that death was stripped of all its terrors. 

Next morning two more of the party were reduced to 
a very languid state; one of them, unable to proceed a 
step farther, lay down, and his companions, incapable 
of affording him any assistance, took an affectionate fare¬ 
well, and left him to expire. 

Towards evening they reached a deep gully, which 
they entered, in the hope of meeting with fresh water. 
Here they found another of the Grosvenor’s crew lying 
dead, with his right hand cut off at the wrist. A cir¬ 
cumstance so singular could not fail to attract the notice 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 29 

of his companions, especially as they recollected that it 
had been the common asseveration of the deceased,— 
May the devil cut my right arm off if it be not true ! It 
had a sensible effect upon his comrades for a time, as 
they superstitiously imagined that Providence had inter¬ 
fered, by a miracle, to show its indignation against his 
profaneness. One of the company, who had lost his own 
clothes in crossing a river, took the opportunity of sup¬ 
plying himself by stripping the dead man, and then they 
proceeded till night, without any other sustenance than 
what their own water afforded them. 

Next day brought no alleviation of their miseries. 
Necessity impelled them to proceed, though hope scarce¬ 
ly darted a ray through the gloom of their prospects. 
The whole party was, at last, reduced to three persons, 
Hynes, Evans, and Wormington, and these could hope 
to survive their companions only a very few days. 
Their faculties rapidly declined, they could scarcely hear 
or see, and a vertical sun darted its beams so intensely 
upon them, that it was with the utmost difficulty they 
could proceed. 

Their misery, from thirst, now became so intolerable, 
that Wormington earnestly importuned his companions 
to determine by lot which of them should die, in order 
that the others might he preserved by drinking his blood. 
Hynes, though almost childish, was shocked at the pro¬ 
posal; his tears flowed abundantly, and he declared, 
that as long as he was able to walk he could not think 
of casting lots; but that, if he should be obliged to drop, 
they might then use him as they pleased. Upon this, 
Wormington, shaking hands with Hynes and Evans, 
suffered them to proceed without him. 

Every hour now seemed to throw a deeper gloom over 
their fate; nature could support, no more. Hynes and 
Evans, however, made another effort to advance, with¬ 
out even indulging a hope of the possibility of relief. 
They this day saw something before them which had 
the appearance of large birds, but their surprise may be 
conceived, when upon a nearer approach they discovered 
them to be men. Nearly blind and idiots, they did not 
3 * 


30 


REMARKABLE StilBWRECKS. 


at first recollect their newly found companions, but after 
some time they recognised in them four of the steward’s 
party from which they had been separated. One of 
them, a boy, named Price, advanced to meet them, and 
gave them the pleasing information, that his associates 
had fresh water in their possession. This inspired them 
with new life, and reciprocal inquiries were made rela¬ 
tive to the fate of their lost companions. The three 
men whom Hynes and his companion had overtaken 
were named Berney, Leary, and De Lasso, who hearing 
% that Wormington was left behind, the two latter went in 
search of him, charging those who remained not to suf¬ 
fer Hynes and Evans to drink too freely of the water, 
as several had expired from the eagerness with which 
they swallowed that fluid after long abstinence. 

Wormington was recovered by the humanity of those 
who went in search of him, and a painful detail of suf¬ 
ferings succeeded. It appeared that the captain’s stew¬ 
ard had been buried in the sand of the last desert over 
which they passed, and that the survivors were reduced 
to such extremity, that after his interment two of the 
party were sent back to cut off his flesh for their immedi¬ 
ate support; but while proceeding upon this horrid er¬ 
rand, they had the good fortune to discover a young 
seal, newly driven on shore, and fresh bleeding, which 
proved a most seasonable relief. They farther stated, 
that they had obtained shell-fish in the sand, when none 
were to be seen upon it, by observing the manner in 
which the birds scratched for them. Without this dis¬ 
covery they must inevitably have perished. 

Hynes and Evans, recounting their adventures to the 
party they had joined, among other circumstances men¬ 
tioned that the ship’s steward, whom they had left to 
expire on the road, had on very decent clothes. This 
tempted one of them to propose to Evans, who was by 
this time pretty well recovered, to go back to the spot 
and strip the body, but the steward could not be found, 
and they concluded that the wild beasts had anticipated 
their design. Jn the evening Evans returned, but with¬ 
out his companion, who had been so indolent and ad- 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


31 


canced with such a slow pace, that the former was 
obliged to leave him behind. As he was never seen 
afterwards, no doubt can be entertained but that he like¬ 
wise fell a victim to the ravenous beasts. These were 
so numerous as to be seen in troops of twenty or more; 
and it was the common and effectual practice of the 
travellers to shout as loud as possible to drive away those 
formidable animals. 

Having now arrived at a favorable spot for water and 
shell-fish, they employed two days in collecting provi¬ 
sions for their future march, and in refreshing themselves. 
Rest and food had an astonishing effect in restoring not 
only the powers of the body, but of the mind; and in a 
short time they thought themselves qualified to encounter 
new fatigues. 

With extreme difficulty and danger they passed a large 
river, supposed to be the Sontag, on a catamaran, and 
having reached the opposite shore, they looked back 
with terror and amazement on their fortunate escape 
from being driven out to sea by the rapidity of the 
stream. Here they likewise found a kind of shell-fish 
which buries itself in the sand, and which increased 
their supplies. 

The united party, consisting of six persons, pursued 
their route over a desert country, where neither hut nor 
native was to be seen, and in six days reached the 
Schwartz river, as they afterwards learned, on the banks 
of which they took up their abode for the night. 

The country, at length, began to assume a fertile and 
cultivated appearance, and some huts appeared at a, dis¬ 
tance from the- shore. While contemplating with plea¬ 
sure this change of prospect, the grass near them took 
fire, and spread with great rapidity. They all used 
every effort to extinguish it, lest this involuntary mis¬ 
chief should provoke the resentment of the natives, or 
the blaze call them to the spot. 

Next morning they swam over the river in safety, and 
soon discovered another dead whale lying on the sea¬ 
shore. Thus supplied with food they purposed resting 
here a few days, if they could have found fresh wpter, 


32 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


but that necessary article being wanting, they cut up as 
much of the whale as they could carry, and proceeded 
on their route. In two hours they came to a thicket, 
where they met with water, and halted to rest. 

Next morning four of the party went back to the 
whale for a larger supply, De Lasso and Price being left 
in charge of the fire. As Price was collecting fuel he 
perceived at a little distance two men with guns, and 
being intimidated at the sight, he returned hastily to 
the fire, whither the welcome intruders pursued him. 
These men belonged to a Dutch settlement in the neigh¬ 
borhood, and were in search of some strayed cattle. One 
of them, named John Battores, supposed to be a Portu¬ 
guese, was able to converse with De Lasso, the Italian, 
so as to be understood; a circumstance as fortunate as it 
was little to be expected. Battores having learned the 
outline of their melancholy story, accompanied them 
to the whale, where their companions were employed 
in cutting away the flesh. Affected at the sight of 
these miserable objects, he desired them to throw away 
what they had been collecting, promising them better 
fare when they reached the habitation to which he be¬ 
longed. 

In vain shall we attempt to describe the sensations of 
the shipwrecked wanderers on receiving this intelligence, 
and that they were within four hundred miles of the 
Cape. The joy that instantly filled every bosom pro¬ 
duced effects as various as extraordinary: one man 
laughed, another wept, and the third danced with trans¬ 
port. 

On reaching the house of Mynheer Christopher Rcos- 
tooff, to whom Battores was bailiff, they were treated 
with the kindest attention. The master, on being ac¬ 
quainted with their distress, immediately ordered bread 
and milk to be set before them; but acting rather on 
principles of humanity than prudence, he furnished them 
such a quantity that their weak stomachs were over¬ 
loaded. After their meal, sacks were spread upon the 
groqnd for them to repose on. 

It fead been so long since they had known any thing 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


33 


of the calculation of time, that they were unacquainted 
even with the name of the month; and they were given 
to understand, that the day of their deliverance was the 
twenty-ninth of November; so that one hundred and 
seventeen days had revolved their melancholy hours 
since they were shipwrecked; a period of suffering al¬ 
most unparalleled, and during which they had often 
been miraculously preserved. 

Next morning Mynheer Roostooff killed a sheep for 
the entertainment of his guests, and another Dutchman, 
of the name of Quin, came with a. cart and six horses 
to convey them towards the Cape. The boy, Price, be¬ 
ing lame, from t he hardships he had undergone, was de¬ 
tained at RoostoofTs house, who kindly undertook his 
cure, and promised to send him after the others when 
he had recovered. The rest of the party proceeded to 
Quin’s house, where they were hospitably entertained 
four days. 

From that time they were forwarded in carts, from 
one settlement to another, till they arrived at Swellen- 
dam, about one hundred miles from the Cape. Wher¬ 
ever they passed they experienced the humanity of the 
farmers, and their wants were relieved with a liberal 
hand. 

At Swellendam they were detained till orders should 
be received from the governor at the Cape, in regard to 
their future destiny, Holland and Great Britain being at 
that time at war. At length two of the party were or¬ 
dered to be forwarded to the Cape, in order to be ex¬ 
amined, while the rest were to remain at Swellendam. 
Accordingly Wormington, and Leary proceeded to the 
Cape, where, after being strictly interrogated, they were 
sent on board a Dutch man-of-war lying in the bay, with 
orders that they should be set to work. While in this 
situation, Wormington having discovered that the boat¬ 
swain was engaged in some fraudulent practices, impru¬ 
dently threatened to give information, on which the boat¬ 
swain, desiring him and his companion to step into a boat, 
conveyed them on board a Danish East Indiaman, just 
getting under way, and by this fortunate incident they 
first reached their native land. 


34 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


But to return to the fate of the rest. Though the 
flames of war were raging between the two nations, 
the Dutch government, at the Cape, being informed of 
the particulars of the loss of the Grosvenor, with a hu¬ 
manity which does them infinite honor, despatched a 
large party in quest of the unhappy wanderers. This 
detachment consisted of one hundred Europeans, and 
three hundred Hottentots, attended by a great number 
of wagons, each drawn by eight bullocks. The com¬ 
mand was given to captain Muller, with orders to pro¬ 
ceed, if possible, to the wreck, and load with such articles 
as might be saved, and to endeavor to discover such of 
the sufferers as were still wandering about the country, 
or in the hands of the natives. 

De Lasso and Evans accompanied this expedition as 
guides; but Hynes, being still very weak, was left at 
Swellendam. The party was well provided with such 
articles as were most likely to insure them a favorable 
reception from the natives, and procure the liberty of 
the unfortunate persons they might find in their way. 
They proceeded with spirit and alacrity, till the Caffres, 
in consequence of their antipathy to the colonists, inter¬ 
rupted the expedition. In their progress they found 
Thomas Lewis, who had been abandoned by his com¬ 
panions, as before mentioned, and William Hatterly, who 
was servant to the second mate, and had continued with 
that party till he alone survived. Thus the fate of one 
division was ascertained^ 

At other places on the road they met with seven las- 
cars, and two black women, one of whom was servant 
to Mrs. Logie, and the other to Mrs. Hosea. From these 
women they learned, that soon after Hynes’ party had 
left the captain and the ladies, they also took separate 
routes; the latter intending to join the lascars, but what 
became of them after this separation was unknown. 
They, indeed, saw the captain’s coat on one of the na¬ 
tives, but whether he died or was killed could never be 
discovered. 

After the enmity of the natives prevented the progress 
of the wagons, some of the party travelled forward fifteen 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 


35 


days on horseback, in the prosecution of their plan, but 
the Caffres still continuing to harass them, they were 
obliged to return, after an absence of about three months. 

Captain Muller returned to Swellendam, with the 
three Englishmen, the seven lascars, and two black wo¬ 
men, the boy, Price, and the two guides, De Lasso and 
Evans. The people of color were detained at Swellen¬ 
dam ; but the English were forwarded to the Cape, where, 
after being examined by the governor, they were permit¬ 
ted to take their passage to Europe in a Danish ship, the 
captain of which promised to land them in England, 
but, excepting Price, who was set on shore at Weymouth, 
they were all carried to Copenhagen, from whence they 
at last found their way to England. 

Such was the termination of the adventures of these 
unfortunate people; but the inquiry concerning the fate 
of the captain and his party was not dropped. Though 
it is probable that before the first Dutch expedition could 
have reached them they had all paid the debt of nature; 
rumors had been spread that several of the English were 
still in captivity among the natives, and these obtained 
such general belief, that M. Yailant, whose philanthropy 
equalled his genius and resolution, made another attempt 
to discover the reputed captives; but he could learn no¬ 
thing decisive as to their situation or final fate. 

The public mind, however, continued still to be agi¬ 
tated, and the interest which all nations took in the fate 
of the unhappy persons, .particularly the women, some 
of whom it was reported had been seen, induced a second 
party of Dutch colonists, with the sanction of govern¬ 
ment, to make another effort to explore the country, and 
to reach the wreck. 

These men, amply provided, set out on the twenty- 
fourth of August. 1793, from Kaffer Keyl’s river, to¬ 
wards cape Natal, on the coast of which the Grosvenor 
was supposed to have been wrecked. Of this expedition 
we have a journal kept by Van Reenen, one of the party, 
and published by captain Riou. It would not be gene¬ 
rally interesting to the reader to give the meagre details 
of distance travelled, and elephants killed; of danger 


36 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


encountered, and rivers crossed; we shall therefore con¬ 
fine ourselves to such incidents as appear to deserve no¬ 
tice, or are connected with the melancholy subject of our 
narrative. 

After proceeding an immense way, on the third of 
November they arrived among the Hambonaas, a nation 
quite different from the Caffres. They have a yellow 
complexion, and their long, coarse hair is frizzled up in 
the form of a turban. Some of these people informed our 
adventurers, that, subject to them, there was a village of 
bastard Christians, descended from people shipwrecked 
on the coast, of whom three old women were still alive 
and married to a Hambonaa chief. This intelligence 
roused their curiosity, and they were fortunate enough to 
obtain an interview with the old women in question, 
who said they were sisters, but having been shipwrecked 
when children, they could not say to what nation they 
originally belonged. The Dutch adventurers offered to 
take them and their children back on their return, at 
which they seemed much pleased. It appears probable, 
that the reports which had been spread, in regard to 
some European women being among the natives, origi¬ 
nated from this circumstance, and as the existence of 
any other white people in this quarter was neither known 
nor suspected, it was naturally concluded that they must 
have belonged to the Grosvenor. 

The Dutch afterwards fell in with Trout, whose name 
has been mentioned in the preceding narrative. He at 
first engaged to conduct them to the spot where the Gros¬ 
venor was wrecked, and informed them that nothing 
was then to be seen, excepting some cannon, iron, bal¬ 
last, and lead: adding, that all the unfortunate crew of 
that ship had perished, some by the hands of the natives 
and the rest of hunger. 

Trout, who, it is to be feared, was guilty of much du¬ 
plicity from the first, pretended that he was a freeman, 
and had sailed in an English ship from Malacca; but 
finding himself likely to be detected, and probably appre¬ 
hensive of being carried back to the Cape, he cautiously 
avoided the Dutch in the sequel, and left them to find 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 37 

their way to the wreck in the best manner they were 
able* 

As they were proceeding to the spot, one of the party, 
named Houltshausen, unfortunately fell into a pit of burnt 
stakes, by which he was terribly wounded in the palm 
of one of his hands, which eventually produced a locked 
jaw, and terminated in his death. These pits are dug 
by the natives, and being covered over with branches of 
trees and grass, serve as snares for the elephants, which 
frequently fall into them, and are thus taken. 

Several of the party, however, proceeded on horse¬ 
back to the wreck, and found nothing more than what 
Trout had described remaining. It was plainly per¬ 
ceived that fires had been made in the vicinity, and on 
a rising ground, between two woods, was a pit, where 
things had been buried and dug out again. This like¬ 
wise tallied with the information of Trout, who told 
them that all the articles collected from the wreck had 
been dispersed over the country, and that most of them 
had been carried to Rio de la Goa, to be sold. That 
place was represented to be about four days’ journey 
from the scene of the catastrophe. 

The natives in the neighborhood expressed great as¬ 
tonishment that the Dutch had been at such infinite 
pains to come in search of the unfortunate crew, and 
they all promised, that in case of any similar disaster 
they would protect such people as might be thrown upon 
the coast, if they could be assured of obtaining beads, 
copper, and iron, for their trouble, which was liberally 
promised by the Dutch. 

These intrepid adventurers, who were now four hun¬ 
dred and thirty-seven leagues distant from the Cape, and 
two hundred twenty-six beyond any Christian habita¬ 
tion, finding that nothing farther was to be discovered 
relative to the wreck, or the fate of the persons who had 
reached the shore, determined to return, particularly as 
Houltshausen’s illness increased. 

On their way back they called at the bastard Chris¬ 
tian village, and would have taken under their protec¬ 
tion the three old women, who seemed desirous of living 
4 


38 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


among Christians, but they wished first to gather in theii 
crops; adding, when that business was accomplished, 
their whole race, to the number of four hundred, would 
be happy to depart from their present settlement. Every 
indulgence was promised them in case they should be 
disposed to emigrate to the Cape. On seeing people of 
the same complexion as themselves they appeared to be 
exceedingly agitated. 

On their homeward journey the Dutch shot many ele¬ 
phants and sea-cows; but on the first of December they 
met with a terrible accident, while employed in cutting 
up the sea-cows killed the preceding day. “ As we were 
thus engaged, (says the journalist,) a large elephant 
made up to the wagons; we instantly pursued and at¬ 
tacked him, when, having received several shot, by 
which he twice fell, he crept into a very thick under¬ 
wood. Thinking we had killed him, Tjaart Vander 
Yaldt, Lodewyk Prins, and Ignatus Mulder, advanced 
to the spot, when he rushed out furiously from the 
thicket, and catching hold of Prins with his trunk, trod 
him to death, driving one of his tusks through the body, 
and throwing it up into the air to the height of thirty 
feet. 

“ The others'perceiving that there was no possibility 
of escaping on horseback, dismounted, and crept into the 
thicket to hide themselves. The elephant seeing nothing 
in view but one of the horses, followed him for some 
time, and then turning about came back to 4he spot 
where the dead man was left. At this instant our whole 
party renewed the attack, and after he had received 
several more wounds, again escaped into the thickest part 
of the wood. 

“We now supposed ourselves safe, but while we were 
digging a grave for our unfortunate companion, the ele¬ 
phant rushed out again, and drove us all from the place. 
Tjaart Vander Valdt got another shot at him; a joint at¬ 
tack being commenced, he began to stagger, and falling, 
the Hottentots despatched him as he lay on the ground.” 

The rest of their journey afforded little worth notice. 
In January, 1791, they reached their respective homes, 


LOSS OF THE GROSVENOR INDTAMAN. 39 

after surmounting incredible difficulties, in an expedi¬ 
tion to which they were prompted solely by a principle 
of humanity, and the desire of relieving, if any remained 
alive, such of our country men as might be among the 
natives. No intelligence of this kind could, however, 
after the most diligent inquiries, be obtained. They 
were, indeed, informed that the ship’s cook had been 
alive about two years before the period of their journey, 
but that he then caught the small-pox and died. 

We cannot conclude this mournful narrative better 
than with the sensible reflections of captain Riou. 

“ Had the party (says he) that set out in search of 
'these shipwrecked people, in 1783, prosecuted their jour¬ 
ney with the same degree of zeal and resolution that 
Van Reenen’s party manifested, it is possible they might 
have discovered and relieved some who have since pe¬ 
rished. Yet, as they coifld not have arrived at the 
place of the wreck in less than six months after the dis¬ 
aster happened, there is no great probability for suppos¬ 
ing, that after such a length of time had elapsed, any 
great number of the unfortunate sufferers could be re¬ 
maining alive. 

u But what we have most to regret is, that, perhaps, 
the failure of the endeavors of the unfortunate crew to 
save their lives was owing to their own misconduct. It 
is too often the case, that disorder and confusion are the 
consequences of extreme distress, and that despair, seiz¬ 
ing on the unprincipled mind, hurries it on to a subver¬ 
sion of all good order and discipline: so that at the mo¬ 
ment when the joint efforts of the whole are most neces¬ 
sary for the general good, each desponding, thoughtless 
member acts from the impulse of the moment, in what¬ 
ever manner his tumultuous feelings may direct; and 
from an erroneous idea of self-interest, or, wonderful as 
it may appear, from a desire of gratifying a rebellious 
and turbulent spirit, at a time when it can be done with 
impunity, is always ready to overturn every plan that 
may be proposed by his superiors, and the considerate 
few that happen to be of the party. 

“Such must have been, and such we are indeed told 



40 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


was, the situation of the crew of the Grosvenor subse¬ 
quent to their shipwreck. 

u Though it may be said to be very easy to see errors 
when {heir consequences are apparent, it will not surely 
he too much to assert, that when this ship’s crew was 
once safely on shore, with the advantage of such arti¬ 
cles as they could procure from the wreck, their situation, 
however deplorable, could not be considered as hopeless. 
For had a chosen body of ten or twenty men marched a 
few days to the northward, they must have fallen in 
with Rio de la Goa, where it seldom happens that there 
is not a French or Portuguese slave ship. But allowing 
captain Coxson was much out of his reckoning, and that 
he supposed himself much nearer to the Cape than he 
really was, they might then have existed on the sea- 
coast, in that climate, sheltered by huts, till ready to set 
out, and by preserving order and discipline, and con¬ 
ducting themselves properly in regard to the natives, 
they might gradually have proceeded in safety to the 
territories of the Dutch. 

“ Had the crew continued under the orders of their 
officers, either of those objects might have been accom¬ 
plished, by men whose minds were not wholly resigned 
to despair; or they might have subsisted on what pro¬ 
vision they could pick up from the wreck, together with 
what they could purchase from the natives, till a boat 
could have been constructed and sent to solicit assistance 
from the Cape. 

“ These reflections have been extended by considering 
the circumstances in which the shipwrecked people were 
placed; from all which it may fairly be concluded, that 
the greater part might have effected a return to their na¬ 
tive land, had they been guided by any idea of the ad¬ 
vantages of discipline and subordination. 

“It is to be hoped, then, that the fatal consequences 
attending disorderly conduct on these calamitous occa¬ 
sions, will impress on the minds of seamen this incon¬ 
trovertible truth, that their only hope of safety must de¬ 
pend upon obedience.” 


LOSS OF THE EAST-INDIAMAN, THE 
FATTYSALEM, 

On the Coast of Coromandel , August 2 8th, 1761. 

The following narrative of the loss of the Fattysalem 
is given in a letter from M. de Kearney, a captain in 
Lally’s regiment, who was taken prisoner by the Eng¬ 
lish, to the count D’Estaing, lieutenant-general, com¬ 
manding the French troops in the East Indies, during 
the war of 1756. 

Some time after your departure from India, (says M. 
de Kearney,) I was taken prisoner by the English, at the 
battle of Vandevachy, a small fort between Madras and 
Pondicherry. My conquerors treated me with the great¬ 
est generosity, and even did all in their power to save 
my effects. But I lost every thing I had taken with 
me for the campaign ; the sepoys plundered me without 
mercy. You are acquainted with that undisciplined mi¬ 
litia : they do not comprehend that it is possible to treat 
as friends; that is, to spare as much as possible those 
who have been, and may again be, their enemies. 

I slept one night in the English camp, and colonel 
Calliot paid me the greatest attention. The next day I 
obtained permission to go on my parole to Pondicherry, 
where I remained several months, and made every possi¬ 
ble exertion to procure my exchange. When the place 
was invested by the English, I was summoned, together 
with the other prisoners of war, to repair to Madras. I 
accordingly went to that place, where I found almost 
two thirds of the officers of the king’s army, taken on 
different occasions. I was, therefore, at Madras when 
the English, having made themselves masters of Pondi¬ 
cherry, resolved to send all the French officers to Eng¬ 
land. I was, in consequence, directed to hold myself ip 



42 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


readiness for embarking; lord Pigott, the governor of 
Madras, kindly permitted me to choose the way by which 
I wished to be conveyed to England. I chose that of 
Bengal, on account of the good accommodations which 
lord Pigott had provided me on board the Hawk, 
and I shall never forget the favors and civilities he 
conferred upon me. By this arrangement I hoped to 
alleviate the hardships and fatigues of my passage to 
Europe. The apprehensions arising from the prospect 
of such a long voyage, with upwards of fifty prisoners 
of war, of all descriptions, confined within a narrow 
compass, and suffering many inconveniences ; but, above 
all, the necessity to which, as I was informed, we should 
be reduced, of living seven or eight months on salt pro¬ 
visions, though the company had given orders to the 
contrary, induced me to take this step, as the safest un¬ 
der such circumstances. It was, however, the cause of 
all my subsequent misfortunes. 

The HaWk, in which I was to be conveyed to Europe, 
proceeded without me from Madras to Bengal, because 
I had not yet settled all my affairs. I was, therefore, or¬ 
dered to prepare to join her by the first opportunity that 
should offer, and which could not be far distant in a sea¬ 
son when vessels were sailing every week for the gulf. 

The first ship that happened to depart was the Fatty- 
salem, which had been built at Bombay, and had never 
been employed but in the India seas. She was intended 
to carry great part of the stores taken by the English, 
and near five hundred troops, which had been thought 
fit to send to Bengal, because, after the reduction of Pon¬ 
dicherry, they were not wanted on that coast. 

In this unfortunate vessel I embarked on the 26th of 
August, 1761, and the same day set sail. On the 28th, 
between ten and eleven in the morning, the captain of 
the ship, in confidence, told major Gordon, the principal 
officer of the troops, that there were seven feet water in 
the hold, that, notwithstanding the exertions of the men, 
the water continued to gain upon them, and that the 
ship could not live above two hours longer. 

When the people had been nearly two hours employed 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


43 


lightening the vessel, by throwing every thing overboard, 
l kept a watchful eye upon the captain. I saw him 
speaking to the major, with an air of consternation, de¬ 
noting the greatest misfortune. I advanced towards 
them and asked in a whisper, in English, what was the 
matter. Major Gordon with a tremulous voice repeated 
what he had just heard of the captain. Struck with the 
dreadful intelligence, but not deprived of the power of 
acting, I instantly formed my resolution. Cutting short 
all useless words, I only asked the captain if we might 
not save ourselves by taking possession of the boat 
which was laden with pigs, and in tow astern of the ves¬ 
sel. He replied, with the most dejected and discouraging 
look, that this expedient would only cause us to survive 
a few hours those we should leave on board; and he 
did not think this measure practicable among so many 
soldiers and sailors. This answer convinced me that 
the pusillanimous captain had no resource. I told him 
we would undertake the execution of the design, and 
that for his part he had only to observe two points, not 
to mention it to others, and to follow when he should 
see us in the fatal boat. He immediately left us. The 
major and I being left together, concerted our escape 
from the vessel, which we executed in less than two 
minutes. He descended from the deck by a private 
ladder into the great cabin, to inform the officers of his 
regiment, who might chance to be there, of our design, 
for the moments were too precious to go elsewhere to 
seek them. For my part, I called my servant, a trusty 
fellow, on whom I could depend. He had been a sol¬ 
dier in my company, and had likewise been taken pri¬ 
soner; but I had obtained his liberty of lord Pigott. 1 
told him in few words our intention. I immediately 
shut the door, that the people might not see us from the 
forecastle. As the ship, though very large, had no gal¬ 
lery, I directed my servant to go out at one of the win¬ 
dows of the cabin, and by means of a rope he let himself 
down into the boat. I had previously furnished him 
with my sword and a hatchet, ordering him to despatch 
without mercy all that attempted to get into the boat, 



44 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


excepting they came from the spot where I was stationed 
to conduct our descent. Every thing was executed in 
the best manner; this intelligent servant kept the boat 
for us till all those whom it was intended to receive had 
descended, and our little embarkation was effected with 
such success and expedition that he was not under the 
necessity of making use of his weapons. As soon as the 
captain, who through his irresolution had nearly lost the 
boat, had entered with the rest, the first thing we did 
was to cut the rope by which she was fastened to the 
vessel, and to push off, so 'that in a short time we had 
got a considerable distance. 

We were now in an open boat, abandoned to the im¬ 
pulse of the wind and waves, to the number of twenty- 
five persons, among whom were two young ladies, the 
wives of English officers, in Coote’s regiment, all badly 
accommodated, ill-clothed, and mixed promiscuously 
with the hogs. Our first purpose was to make room, 
for which purpose we began to throw the pigs overboard; 
but a lucky reflection of one of the company caused us 
to keep seven, in order that, at all events, we might not 
be reduced to the horrible necessity of devouring each 
other, which must have been the case without this 
wretched resource. Having thus cleared the boat a 
little, we were obliged to attend to another point equally 
pressing. Each of us took off his coat or waistcoat, to 
make a sail to our bark, and even the ladies were each 
obliged to give one of the petticoats they had on, which 
were only of muslin. All these things, being joined and 
tied together, with our handkerchiefs torn into slips, 
formed a kind of sail, equally weak and awkward. 

While we were thus employed, the unfortunate crew 
kept making signals that every thing was repaired, with 
a view to induce us to return. This artifice was em¬ 
ployed by our wretched companions, in the hope of sav¬ 
ing themselves in our boat. If we had been so weak as 
to listen to our captain, who fell into such an evident 
snare, we should have gone back, and all have perished 
together. We, however, took care not to go near them, 
and it was fortunate for us that we did; for a few minutes 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


45 


afterwards the ship presented the most distressing spec¬ 
tacle. She was no longer under government; sometimes 
she drifted away, and at others she turned round like a 
whirlwind. Soon afterwards one of the masts went by 
the board; another followed, and the third went next.' 
The ship was now a sheer-hulk, still floating at the will 
of the waves; but which appeared to be kept afloat oidy 
by the incessant exertions of the poor wretches, whose 
piercing cries filled us with horror. A fog came on ; we 
could no longer distinguish the vessel, and she must in a 
short time have gone to the bottom. 

It is always by comparison that we are fortunate or 
miserable. What great reason had we to thank Heaven 
for having preserved us from the fate to which between 
five and six hundred persons left on board were doomed. 
But what was the price of our escape ? For what mise¬ 
ries reserved? And, how melancholy our situation! 
In the open sea, in a crazy boat, which a single wave 
would have sent to the bottom, in the hand of Provi¬ 
dence, without compass, or any other rigging than our 
little sail, which required all our attention. 

We had not a drop of water, nor provisions of any 
kind. Constantly wet with the waves which entered 
our boat, and continually employed in baling the water, 
with which we were incessantly inundated; and, not¬ 
withstanding this fatiguing labor, were shivering with 
cold, because we had very few clothes to cover our¬ 
selves, and those few were thoroughly soaked. In this 
state we floated at the mercy of the waves seven days 
and seven nights. 

Our only nourishment was a spoonful and a half of 
pig’s blood, distributed to each every twenty-four hours; 
for, in order to allow two spoonfuls, it was necessary to 
mix with it a little salt water; and never was any thing 
more exactly measured than this scanty pittance. Many 
of us, whose appetites and stomachs were equally good, 
eat the flesh of the pigs quite raw, and we killed one 
each day, so that on the seventh we had nothing left. 
My principal regale was the liver, or coagulated blood, 
which I only sucked, and then spit it out. My servant, 
our butcher, always reserved that part for me. 


46 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Soon after twelve o’clock of the seventh night, we 
thought we heard a noise, that at first appeared very 
strange, hut which we afterwards judged to proceed from 
the dashing of breakers against the rocks, or against 
some shore. We floated between fear and joy, and in- 
patiently waited for daylight. That light, so slow in 
its approach, at length arrived, and every thing disap¬ 
peared. Judge of the revolution produced in our minds 
and bodies by this vain hope destroyed, as soon as con¬ 
ceived. It plunged us into such profound consternation, 
that we should not have been able to bear up against it, 
had not the hand of the Almighty speedily afforded 
relief. 

About seven the same morning, one of the company 
cried out, “ Land, or something like it.” We now dis¬ 
tinguished in the horizon a speck which our ardent de¬ 
sire to meet with land actually caused us to take for 
such. Nature was once more animated by a ray of 
hope. .We directed our course towards the point which 
appeared in the horizon, and at nine began to distinguish 
hills, but saw no land till we were on the beach, because 
the shore is so extremely low. It is impossible to de¬ 
scribe the effect this cheering sight produced upon us. I 
will, however, endeavor to give you some idea of it. 
We all immediately experienced a certain impression of 
joy, vigor of life, with which our souls were penetrated, 
as a person is penetrated by the heat, when, after endur¬ 
ing excessive cold, he comes to a good fire, whose genial 
influence reanimates his benumbed powers. We felt a 
delicious sensation of our feeble existence, and this sensa¬ 
tion, diffused through all our faculties, seemed to restore 
us to new life. It is only those who have been in the 
same situation that can know the inexpressible enjoy¬ 
ment of a moment of which assuredly no other situation 
in life can afford an idea. 

The question now was how to disembark. Here we 
were under some embarrassment; for the surf was very 
strong, and the desert appearance of the coast, on which 
we discovered neither house, nor inhabitants, nor chelin - 
guis, (small boats which are used in the East Indies for 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


47 


embarking and going on shore,) was a more convincing 
proof than the assertion of the pusillanimous captain, that 
no European boat had ever landed there. A consulta¬ 
tion was held, in which it was resolved to make the at¬ 
tempt to let those save themselves who could. This 
opinion, supported by those who could swim, and par¬ 
ticularly by the captain, who even declared that he was 
sure of getting on shore safe, was too contrary to hu¬ 
manity to be adopted by good sense. It was the same 
as condemning those who unfortunately were not famil¬ 
iar with the water, and in particular the two females 
and myself, who knew no more how to swim than they, 
to almost inevitable death, at least, excepting the Al¬ 
mighty should work a new miracle in our behalf. I 
reprobated the measure, and told the captain in a firm 
tone that it should not be executed as long as I had 
breath; that since part of the company were in the same 
predicament with myself, and my servant, whose life 
was as dear to me as my own, it was their duty to steer 
the boat in such a manner, that we might all get to land 
in safety. I added, holding my sword drawn before 
him, that he should answer with his life for that of eve¬ 
ry individual. 

At these words an English officer, of the name of 
Scott, a hotheaded man, and almost inclined to the most 
violent measures, exclaimed, “What! does a single 
Frenchman, and prisoner of war, here pretend to give 
law to us, and dare fo call us barbarians7” “Sir,” said 
I, calmly, * c our common misfortune renders us all equal; 
I am free here as well as you, and repeat it at the risk 
of all the satisfaction that may be demanded of me when 
on shore, the captain shall answer with his life for the 
lives of all our companions.” 

The captain being intimidated, ordered two lascars, 
good swimmers, that had escaped with us, to place them- 
, selves beside me, and not to quit me till I was on shore. 
He then went to the helm, and managed so skilfully, or 
rather with such good fortune, that we ran aground 
without any accident. In consequence, however, of a 
very natural impatience, twelve of our companions, the 



48 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


moment the boat struck, leaped into the water, and even 
some of those who could swim nearly perished. They 
were besides separated from us, the boat being thrown 
by two waves into a river, which we did not perceive 
till we had entered it. This river was so rapid that our 
boat was soon driven aground, and we thus had an op¬ 
portunity of getting on shore. 

I wish I could describe this moment; but how shall I 
trace it, with all its circumstances, with the simplicity, 
the energy, the truth of nature? We scarcely felt the 
ground, when each, occupied only with himself and the 
single sentiment of his own preservation, no longer 
thought of his companions. Our eyes sought only fresh 
water, and something to prolong our existence. We per¬ 
ceived a small lake, and we instantly ran to its banks, 
plunging overhead in the water like ducks, to allay a 
dreadful thirst, a thirst of seven whole days, to which 
the heat of a burning fever bears no comparison. It 
would be necessary to have endured, for the same length 
of time, the devouring fire of thirst, of all human wants 
the most insupportable, and the most pressing, to form 
any conception of ours, and our eagerness to appease it. 
In such a situation, the sufferer would give for a glass 
of water all the gold and all the diamonds of India; he 
would give the world. Prom this you may judge of our 
protracted sufferings, our transports on the banks of the 
lake, and the delight we experienced. Having drank 
our fill, we began some to eat the grass, and others the 
shell-fish, which fortunately happened to be on the spot 
where we landed, and during forty-eight hours we had 
no other nourishment. 

We now began to he distressed at our separation into 
two parties. We endeavored to join each other again, 
but being prevented by the depth of the torrent that 
separated us, each company began to march towards the 
interior of the country, in quest of some habitation. The 
country belonged to the dominions of the Rajah of Arsa- 
pour, situated near the mouth of the Ganges. We had 
not advanced far, when a snare was laid for us by the 
natives, that they might the more easily get us into their 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


49 


power*. Two fishermen, by whom we had been dis¬ 
covered, were directed to tell us to remain where we 
were. They assured us that the sovereign of the place 
was informed of our arrival in his dominions, that he 
was acquainted with our disaster, and our unfortunate 
situation, and that, being a prince of a benevolent dispo¬ 
sition, he would very soon send us relief of every kind. 
A few hours afterwards a quantity of rice and hog’s lard 
was actually brought us, with the Rajah’s compliments, 
and a promise that the following day we should be shel¬ 
tered from the inclemency of the air, and particularly 
the night dews, which was very dangerous in that cli¬ 
mate. This promise they punctually performed, for the 
next day people came to fetch us, but it was for the pur¬ 
pose of conducting us to a small island, to be kept as 
prisoners. Each of the two divisions was conducted by 
a different route, and we knew not what had become of 
the other. There we remained seven weeks, having no 
other nourishment than black rice, on paying for it, and 
twice a week detestable salt fish; and to procure even 
this we were obliged to sell every thing we had about us. 
We, however, found means to tame two blacks, to whose 
care we were consigned, and to procure of them some 
indulgences. One of our ladies, Mrs. Tait, a native of 
Ireland, who had a good voice, sung them some English 
songs, to which they listened with great pleasure, though 
they understood not a word of them. This complai¬ 
sance obtained us from time to time some fruits and 
other refreshments. The water we had to drink was so 
unwholesome, that out of the two companies thirteen 
died, and the twelve survivors were all attacked with 
' fevers or dropsies, and were either livid or yellow, and 
so disfigured, that no one would have taken us for Eu¬ 
ropeans. 

But as no distress is so great as to deprive men of all 
hope or the power of relieving themselves from it, so 
our attention was incessantly directed towards the means 
of escaping from our island. The two lascars who were 
in our company appeared likely to aid us in the design. 
With a pencil, which one of the ladies chanced to have 



50 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


preserved, we wrote a note to Barasole, where the Hhg-' 
lish have a small factory. This we prevailed upon the 
lascars to take, promising them a considerable sum of 
money, if we should be released from captivity, and on 
our arrival at the first European settlement. The las¬ 
cars complied with our desire, and notwithstanding the 
difficulties of the journey, they set off. They were 
obliged to swim across three or four very large rivers, 
and always to travel in the night, to prevent being dis¬ 
covered by the natives. Having escaped many dangers 
by their dexterity, or surmounted them by their boldness 
and perseverance, they at length arrived at Cattack, the 
residence of a Rajah, or chief of the Mahrattas. On 
their arrival at that place they were carried before the 
Rajah, and being interrogated respecting their business 
there, they gave an account of our shipwreck, the man¬ 
ner in which we had escaped, the distresses we had 
since experienced, and our confinement by the Rajah of 
Arsapour. They did not forget to add that we had with 
us two young white women, and that the men were 
people of consequence. The Mahratta chief then in¬ 
quired if the men were proper for soldiers; likewise asked 
whether the women were very fair, and handsome enough 
for his seraglio. The lascars having satisfied him rela¬ 
tive to these particulars, the Rajah immediately sent for 
<he son of the Rajah of Arsapour, who was then his hos¬ 
tage, and ordered him to write to his father, to send off 
to Cattack, immediately on the receipt of his letter, the 
Europeans, both men and women, whom he had, for two 
months, kept prisoners in an island. Conformably to the 
policy of all the petty sovereigns of India, he likewise 
took care to order that we might be sent by the worst 
and least frequented roads, to conceal us as much as 
possible from the sight of the natives. The order for 
departure having been given separately to the two par¬ 
ties, we set off with our guides, and had proceeded some 
hours when we met. VVe had been parted two months, 
and during this interval had received no tidings of each 
other ; you may therefore conceive how great was our joy 
on seeing one another again. We mutually learned the 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


51 


death of those of our companions which each party had 
lost; and skeletons, walking spectres, that could scarcely 
walk, congratulated each other on being still alive. 

The distance to Cattack was fourteen days’ journey; 
this we travelled on foot, and almost without shoes. 
Our journeys were very short, because we were all ill, 
and exhausted with fatigue; besides, our way led al¬ 
most continually through marshes, up to our waists in 
mud. We had several large rivers to cross, in the pas¬ 
sage of which those who could swim assisted the others. 
The two young English women, who'certainly were not 
formed for such hardships, were in a most deplorable 
condition, and the sufferings of these poor creatures 
seemed to aggravate our own distresses. One of them, 
Mrs. Nelson, died four days before we reached Cattack, 
but the other, though three months advanced in her 
pregnancy, was so fortunate as to arrive at that place in 
safety. 

Although exhausted with fatigue at the end of each 
day’s journey, we were obliged to pass the night under 
trees, because the people of the country would not per¬ 
mit us to set foot in their houses, the exercise of hospi¬ 
tality towards Europeans being prohibited by their reli¬ 
gion. We, at length, arrived at Cattack, but some seve¬ 
ral days before the others. There we learned that the 
English had a factory in the place, and repaired thitker 
immediately; but we found only some sepoys in the 
Company's pay, and not a single European. The se¬ 
poys received us with great kindness, and, moved by our 
situation, they first went to the bazar, or market, to pro¬ 
cure us some bread. This we greedily devoured, drink¬ 
ing water, which they gave us, and thus made a deli¬ 
cious repast. We congratulated one another on finding 
ourselves under a roof, and sheltered from the inclemen¬ 
cy of the air; we then lay down and slept. We ex¬ 
pected the next day that the Mahratta chief would send 
some orders relative to us, but he was then on a tour 
in the country. His minister took no notice of us, and 
allowed us nothing to subsist upon. The sepoys, there¬ 
fore, continued to maintain us in the best manner ihey 
were able. 


52 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


During our journey from the island in which we had 
been confined to Cattack, the two lascars who had ef¬ 
fected our release, and had concealed from the Mahratta 
chief the commission with which they were intrusted by 
us, proceeded on their route, and arrived at Barrasole, 
where they acquainted the English with our situation. 
They then went to Calcutta, and called upon Mr. Van 
Sittart, the English governor of Bengal. The governor 
lost no time in sending us relief; but, on account of the 
distance, we did not receive it till twenty or twenty-five 
days after our arrival at Cattack. He used all his influ¬ 
ence with the Mahrattas to obtain our liberty, but as 
they were not, at that time, on very good terms with the 
Company, they refused to grant this favor to merchants. 
It was, therefore, necessary that colonel Coote, the con¬ 
queror of India, should demand our release, which he 
obtained without difficulty. 

Our company was soon anxious to repair to Barrasole, 
at the distance of six days’ journey. As for me and my 
faithful servant we did not wait for the general order to 
depart, but set off before the rest. I had found at Cat¬ 
tack an European, a native of Russia, who had been a 
gunner in M. De Bussy’s army, and was now an artillery 
officer in the service of the Mahrattas. As he under¬ 
stood and could speak the French language, I endeavor¬ 
ed, without informing him who I was, to learn his senti¬ 
ments relative to M. De Bussy. He assured me that it 
was he who had given the Asiatics the highest idea of 
the Europeans, that he should regret him all his life, and 
should never cease to adore him; these were his ex¬ 
pressions. On this I told him I was a Frenchman, and 
prisoner of war to the English; that I had with me a 
servant, to whom I was strongly attached, and that I was 
desirous of leaving Cattack as speedily as possible. He 
replied that he would procure me permission to leave 
the place, provided the others should know nothing of 
the matter till the moment of our departure. I kept the 
secret, and he actually obtained a kind of permission for 
me and my servant. I immediately hired two dooleys, 
a kind of handbarrow carried by men. To pay for 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


53 


these and to support us on our journey, I sold my stock 
buckle and sleeve buttons, the only things I had left. I 
then took leave of my companions, frankly informing 
them how and by what means I had obtained permission 
to depart, that they might employ the same method. 

Our journey to Barrasole had nearly proved fatal to 
us; being twice attacked by tigers, and had the pain to 
see a Moor, that had been very serviceable to us several 
times in our distress, carried off, at the distance of a few 
paces from us, by one of these cruel animals. The same 
tiger, after despatching the unfortunate man, came again 
out of the wood, and gazed on us with a most terrible 
look, but keeping close together, our tirmness, and the 
noise we made, obliged him to retire. 

On my arrival at Barrasole, I met with some English¬ 
men going to embark for Bengal. They proposed to me 
to accompany them. I had scarcely time to drink a 
glass, and went on board. 

We were six or seven days in reaching Calcutta, it 
being so very difficult to ascend the Ganges, and were 
again near perishing in this short passage, where you 
meet with rocks upon rocks, and dangers upon dangers. 
When we had arrived at Goupil, I saw several of the 
East India Company’s ships, and begged the English to 
let me go on board one of them. They perceived that 
both myself and my servant were sick, exhausted, and 
in want of every thing; therefore, at the expense of two 
rupees, all the money I had left, I procured a boat to 
carry me on board the Plassy, commanded by captain 
Ward. When I had got on board this ship, I imagined 
my hardships at an end, and every thing was almost 
forgotten. The first person I spoke to was Mr. White, 
a captain of the Company’s troops. He took my ser¬ 
vant and me for two soldiers who had been fobbed; our 
figure and dress, equally worthy of pity, announced the 
most miserable condition. This generous Englishman, 
addressing himself to me, said, in his 'own language,— 
11 Poor soldier ! you are badly equipped. Who are you, 
and whence do you come?” I replied in English, “ You 
are right, I am a soldier, and my servant there is one 
5* 


54 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


likewise; we think ourselves very fortunate in being still 
in existence.” I added, that I was one out of twelve 
who had escaped from the ship Fattysalem, which had 
been lost, together with the crew, on the coast of Coro¬ 
mandel; that I was indebted for my life, in the first 
place, to my soldier’s courage, and in the next to the 
exertions of my servant, whom he saw overwhelmed 
with disease, and unable to stand; and concluded with 
telling him my name and rank. Mr. White immediately 
went to his cabin, and brought me a change of clothes 
from head to foot, of which I certainly stood in great 
need, for I had for ten weeks worn the same shirt, all in 
tatters; my servant only dipped it from time to time in 
water, to ease me a little. The poor fellow, who was 
quite naked, was likewise supplied with clothes. Mr. 
White then presented me with some chocolate and some¬ 
thing to eat; but I was so weak that the smell only of 
the chocolate had nearly made me faint, and I could not 
eat any thing. I drank some tea, and that was all I 
could get down. I received a thousand other civilities 
from this worthy man, and the captain showed me equal 
kindness. When I had changed my things and taken 
my tea, those gentlemen proposed to me to go up the 
Ganges to Calcutta with them, in a vessel that was just 
going to set off. I consented, but not without great re¬ 
gret, at being obliged to leave behind me in the vessel 
my faithful companion, who Avas attacked with a violent 
fever. However, as there was no other alternative, and 
as the kindness of those gentlemen, both to him and to 
me, rendered me easy Avith regard to his fate, I left him, 
but not without great reluctance. He died soon after- 
Avards in the English hospital at Calcutta. 

We arrived at that place the next day. I Avent to the 
governor, Mr. Van Sittart, who received me Avith great 
humanity, and assigned me, as a prisoner of Avar, one 
hundred and tAventy rupees per month for my subsist¬ 
ence. I was in great want, and he did not make me any 
advance. I had recourse to my benefactor, Mr. White, 
Avho lent me three hundred rupees, which I expended in 
the purchase of linen and clothes. I Avas tAvo months 


LOSS OF THE FATTYSALEM. 


55 


'Without drawing the allowance assigned me by the go* 
vernor. I was about to receive it, when I suddenly re¬ 
ceived an order to embark in the Hawk, which was still 
on the coast. 1 was sick, and had no linen made up, 
nor any thing necessary to set out on so long a voyage. 
I was, however, pressed to set off. Colonel Coote had 
the kindness to defer my departure, and the Hawk sailed 
without me. I therefore had time to equip myself. I 
flattered myself that Mr. Van Sittart, to whom, in the 
quality of an officer of the king’s ctat-major and captain 
of his forces, I offered the necessary securities, or bills 
of exchange on the French East India Company, would 
advance me a sum to pay the debts which my situation 
had obliged me to contract: but in this hope I found my¬ 
self mistaken. I mentioned this subject shortly before 
my departure to colonel Coote, who sent me three hun¬ 
dred rupees. The governor hearing of it, likewise trans¬ 
mitted me four hundred. This was all I received from 
him, and I could not help receiving this scanty relief, 
that I might leave no debts behind me. 

On the 2d of February, I left Calcutta and returned to 
Goupil, on the Ganges, where I embarked in the Hol- 
dernesse, commanded by captain Brooke. I was re¬ 
ceived with great kindness by the captain, who had on 
board thirteen or fourteen other French officers, prison¬ 
ers like myself. The ship arrived without accident, and 
after a month’s residence at London I was permitted to 
return to France. 



LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES, 
On the Coast of Caffraria , the 16 th of June, 1796. 

The account of the fate of the American ship Her¬ 
cules, (and of the adventures and sufferings of her crew,) 
which set out on her voyage from Bengal in the month 
of December, 1795, involves so much interest, as cannot 
fail to prove extremely entertaining; nor can it be better 
detailed than from the account given by the commander, 
captain Benjamin Stout; whose intention it was, to take 
in a private freight for Hamburgh, hut not finding one 
that would answer his expectations, he chartered his 
ship to the British East India Company, who were at 
that time busily employed in shipping rice for England. 
Intelligence having reached the settlements in India that 
a failure of corn throughout the whole of Great Britain 
was likely to produce a famine, the most active and 
laudable exertions were made in India to supply the 
markets at home with rice; and he received on board 
unwards of nine thousand bags, with directions to pro¬ 
ceed to London with every possible despatch. The crew, 
most of which having been engaged in India, consisted 
Americans, Danes, Swedes, Dutch, Portuguese, but 
chiefly lascars, amounting in the whole, men and boys, 
to about sixty-four. The necessary arrangements for the 
voyage being completed, they sailed from Sugar-Roads 
on the 17th of March, 1796. 

Nothing material occurred during the voyage until the 
1st of June following, at which time they reached the 
latitude of about 35° south, and 28°, 40', east longitude. 
It then began to blow a gale from the westward, which 
obliged them to lay to under their mizzen stay-sail for six 
days. During this time the gale continued to blow from 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


57 


the west, but increased progressively until the 7th, when 
the contentions of the sea and winds presented a scene 
of horror, of which, perhaps, the annals of marine history 
give us no example. “ Although bred to the sea (says 
captain Stout) from my earliest life, yet ail I had ever 
seen before, all I had ever heard of or read, gave me no 
adequate idea of those sublime effects which the violence 
and raging of the elements produce, and which, at this 
tremendous hour, seemed to threaten nature itself with 
dissolution.” The ship, raised on mountains of water, 
was in a moment precipitated into an abyss, where she 
appeared to wait until the coming sea raised her again 
into the clouds. The perpetual roaring of the elements 
echoing Through the void, produced such an awful sen¬ 
sation in the minds of the most experienced of the sea¬ 
men, that several of theifl appeared for some time in a 
state of stupefaction; and those less accustomed to the 
dangers of the sea added to this scene of misery by their 
shriekings and exclamations. 

The terrors of the day could only be surpassed by 
those of the night. When the darkness came on, it is 
impossible for man to describe, or human imagination to 
conceive, a scene of more transcendent and complicated 
horror. To fill up the measure of their calamities, about 
the hour of midnight a sudden shift of wind threw the 
ship into the trough of the sea, which struck her aft, tore 
away the rudder, started the stern post from the hauden 
ends, and shattered the whole of her stem frame. The 
pumps were immediately sounded, and in the course of 
a few minutes the water had increased to four feet. A 
gang was immediately ordered to the pumps, and the re¬ 
mainder were employed in getting up rice out of the run 
of the ship, and heaving it overboard, in order, if possi¬ 
ble, to get at the leak. After three or four hundred bags 
were thrown into the sea, the principal leak was disco¬ 
vered, and the water poured in with astonishing rapidity. 
In order, therefore, to decrease as much as possible the 
influx of water, sheets, shirts, jackets, bales of muslin, 
and every thing of the like description were thrust into 
the aperture. Had not these exertions been attended 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


5S 

with some success, the ship must certainly have gone 
down, although the pumps delivered fifty tons of water 
an hour. 

As the next day advanced, the weather began to mode¬ 
rate. The men worked incessantly at the pumps, and 
every exertion was made to keep the ship afloat. They 
were at this time about two hundred miles from the east¬ 
ern coast of Africa. 

On the 9th, although the violence of the tempest had 
in a great measure subsided, yet the swell of the sea was 
tremendous. The longboat was ordered out; but the 
captain having reason to suspect that some of the ciew 
would endeavor to make off with her, he directed the 
second mate and three seamen to take possession of her; 
at the same time giving them arms and express orders to 
shoot the first man who attempted to board her without 
his permission. They were also instructed to keep 
astern, but to stick by the ship until they came to an an¬ 
chor. 

The men having taken their station in the boat, a raft 
was ordered to be made of all the large spars, which was 
accordingly done. The whole when lashed together 
measured about thirty-five feet in length, and fifteen in 
breadth. At this time the captain apprehended the ship 
could not make the land, and being convinced, in case 
of her going down, that all the people could not be re¬ 
ceived into the longboat, determined not to neglect any 
measure that presented even a chance of saving the 
whole. 

When the second mate was preparing to obey the or¬ 
ders he had received, and take command of the long¬ 
boat, the carpenter addressed the captain in a respectful 
manner, and earnestly entreated him to leave the ship. 
On being reprimanded for not attending to the pumps, 
the man burst into tears, and declared, that the whole 
of the stern frame was shook and loosened in such a 
manner, that he expected every minute she would go 
down. The miserable appearance of this man, and the 
affecting tone of voice in which he delivered his appre¬ 
hensions, considerably increased the terrors of the ^rew j 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


59 


thereupon the captain thought it necessary to declare 
that he would perform his duty and stick to the ship 
until he was convinced from his own observation that 
all hope of saving her was at an end. The carpenter 
repeated his solicitations, when he was ordered to his 
post, and assured, at the same time, that unless he made 
every exertion to encourage the people in their duty at 
the pumps, he should be immediately thrown into the 
sea. He retired, and exerted himself afterwards with a 
manly perseverance. 

The captain was immediately addressed on the de¬ 
parture of the carpenter by many of the sailors, and on 
the same subject. They were so clamorous, and diffused 
so much in their opinions, that he was nearly going to 
extremes with some of them. 

These circumstances are mentioned as a caution to 
future navigators, who are intrusted with a command. 
They too frequently listen to the opinion of their people 
in time of danger, who are generally for quitting the ship, 
and taking to boats, masts, yards and spars formed into 
rafts, or whatever timbers they Can lash together; in¬ 
deed, as the prejudices and sentiments of the common 
sailors on these occasions are so various, it is not to be 
supposed that any thing can arise from such a mistaken 
conduct but confusion and misfortune. 

A crew, such as composed that of the Hercules, which 
consisted of people of various nations, require indeed 
from their commander a peculiar attention. It may 
happen, that by humoring their religious prejudices at a 
particular moment, an essential service may be obtained ; 
and the following remarkable anecdote will tend to elu¬ 
cidate this opinion. 

At a period when the tempest raged with the utmost 
violence, the captain directed most of the crew below, 
particularly the lascars, to work the pumps. One of 
them, however, was perceived coming up the gangway, 
with a handkerchief in his hand ; and on being question¬ 
ed what he was about, he answered in a tone of voice 
that discovered a perfect confidence in the measure he 
proposed, that he was going to make an offering to his 


60 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


god. “ This handkerchief,” said he, “ contains a certain 
quantity of rice, and all the rupees I am worth; suffer 
me to lash it to the mizzen-top, and rely upon it, sir, we 
shall all be saved.” The captain was going to order 
him back to the pumps, but recollecting that in so doing 
he might throw both him and his countrymen into a 
state of despondency, and thereby lose the benefits of 
their exertions, he acquiesced. The lascar thanked him, 
and he soon beheld the child of prejudice mount the tot¬ 
tering ladder without discovering a single apprehension. 
He lashed the handkerchief to the mizzen top-mast head, 
fearless of all danger, and arrived in safety on the deck. 
Confident now that his god was the captain’s friend, he 
went below to inform his brethren that he had done his 
duty; all the lascars seemed transported with joy, em¬ 
braced their virtuous companion, and then labored at the 
pumps with as much alacrity and perseverance as if they 
had encountered, before, neither apprehension nor fa¬ 
tigue. To their unceasing labors was owing, in a great 
measure, the preservation of his people. 

The shift of wind which threw the ship into the 
trough of the sea and tore away the rudder, was fortu¬ 
nately a squall of but short duration, not continuing 
above a quarter of an hour. Had it lasted but a little 
longer, the ship must have been torn to pieces. The 
wind came round to its former quarter, and moderated 
gradually. 

After the longboat had been delivered to the care of 
the second mate, and the raft completed, the captain held 
a consultation with the officers, and they were all decid¬ 
edly of opinion that it was impossible to save the ship, 
and that they had no other chance to preserve their lives 
than to make the land and run her on shore. 

The people, when informed of the issue of this consul¬ 
tation, appeared to work with renovated spirits. This 
disposition was kept up by being assured they would 
soon be within sight of land, and that by constantly 
working at the pumps, the ship would be kept afloat 
until they reached the shore. 

She remained for some time unmanageable, frequently 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


61 


standing with her head from the land, which all their 
efforts could not prevent. The captain got a rudder 
made out of the top-mast, and fixed in the place of the 
one they had lost; but it was found of little use without 
the help of the longboat, which he ordered therefore to 
be hauled athwart her stem, and this served, although 
with the greatest difficulty, to get her head towards the 
shore, the wind being variable from the eastward. A 
cable could have been got out, that might have answer¬ 
ed tolerably well to steer the ship; but the people could 
not be spared from the pumps to attend roussing in on 
the tackles, or guise, as occasion might require. 

On the evening, however, of the 15th, they discovered 
land at about six leagues’ distance. All on board at this 
moment expressed their joy in shouts and acclamations. 
The ship still kept nearing the shore, with five feet water 
in her hold. 

On the 16th, in the morning, being then about two 
miles from the land, and the wind from the westward, 
the captain ordered the anchor to be let go, that a last 
effort might be made to stop the leaks, and, if possible, 
save the ship. But her stern was shattered in such a 
manner, that after holding another consultation with his 
officers, it was finally resolved to run the ship on the 
coast then opposite to them. Another gale threatened 
them, and no time was to be lost. 

The captain immediately ordered his second mate, 
who was in the boat, to come on board, and he then 
delivered into his custody the ship’s register, and all the 
papers of consequence he had. After providing him and 
his three men with water and provisions, he ordered him 
into the boat again, with directions to keep in the offing; 
and that after they had run the ship on shore, provided 
they got safe to land, he would search for some inlet into 
which he might run with safety. They desired him also 
to look out for signals which would be occasionally 
thrown out from the shore to direct his course. The 
mate faithfully promised ter obey his instructions, and 
then returned to his boat. 

They were now on the coast of Caffraria, within a 


62 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


few leagues where the Infanta river empties itself into 
the sea. A dreadful crisis approached, and they agreed 
to meet it with becoming fortitude. The captain there¬ 
fore gave directions to set the head sail, to heave the 
spring well taught, in order to get her head towards the 
shore, and then to cut the cable and the spring. His 
orders were obeyed with the greatest promptitude. 

After running until within something less than half a 
mile of the shore, she struck on a cluster of rocks. The 
swell at this moment was tremendous; and from the 
ship’s thumping so violently, it was scarcely possible for 
the men to hold on. In this situation she remained for 
about three or four minutes, when a sea took her over 
the rocks, and carried her about a cable’s length nearer 
the shore, where she again struck, and kept heaving in 
with a dreadful surf, which every moment made a 
breach over her. 

The lashings that held the raft having given way, and 
the spars carried to a considerable distance from the 
ship, they lost all hope from that quarter. At length 
one of the crew, who was a black, plunged into the 
waves, and by exertions which seemed more than hu¬ 
man, gained and seated himself on the raft. He scarcely 
remained in that situation for ten minutes, when the 
whole was turned over and the man completely enve¬ 
loped in the sea. In a few moments, however, they 
perceived him in his former seat. Again he endured a 
similar misfortune; and a third succeeded. Still he 
buffeted the waves, and gained the raft, until at length, 
after suffering two hours of fatigue, which, until then, 
the captain could not possibly imagine human nature 
could survive, he drifted on land. 

The natives, who had kindled several fires, appeared 
in great numbers on the shore. They were mostly 
clothed in skins, armed with spears, and accompanied 
by a vast number of dogs. A party of them seized the 
man who had landed, and conducted him behind the 
sand-hills that line the coast, and which hid him entirely 
from their view. 

Twelve of the crew now launched themselves on dif- 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 63 

ferent spars, and whatever pieces of timber they could 
find. They braved all difficulties and at last gained the 
land. No sooner had they reached the beach than the 
natives came down, seized and conducted them also be¬ 
hind the sand-hills. As it was impossible for those who 
remained on board to discover what they were about, 
and observing several parties of the natives appear at 
different times on the shore, but not accompanied by any 
of the people, they conceived all those who had landed 
were massacred, and that a similar fate awaited the 
whole of them. They who had remained on board the 
ship were obliged to shelter themselves in the forecastle, 
as the wreck becoming a fixed object, the sea made over 
her, and there was no other part where they could remain, 
even for a moment, in a state of security. 

Suspense and apprehension reigned duriug the whole 
of the night. Some were of opinion, that to avoid being 
tortured by the savages, and perhaps thrown into the 
fires they had perceived on shore, it would be more ad¬ 
visable to resign themselves to a watery element, as in 
that situation they should only endure a few struggles, 
and then life would be no more. Others entertained 
different sentiments, and were for making the shore in 
as compact a body as possible. “We shall then,” said 
they, “attack the savages with stones, or whatever we 
can find.” This was overruled as a measure impracti¬ 
cable; there was no possibility of six men keeping toge¬ 
ther ; but if such a number could, by a miracle, get on 
shore without being divided, the natives could destroy 
them in a moment with their spears. The whole of this 
miserable night was spent in such consultations; and as 
the next sun was to light them to their fate, they trem¬ 
bled at its approaching the horizon. 

As soon as morning appeared, they looked towards 
the shore; but not an individual was to be seen. Dis¬ 
traction was now visible in every countenance, and what 
death to choose the principal consideration. At length, 
about the hour of nine, the scene changed in a moment. 
A delirium of ecstasy succeeded, which no pencil can 
portray, no being can conceive, but those who beheld it. 


64 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


All the people who had landed the day before were 
observed making towards the shore; and they soon per¬ 
ceived them beckoning and inviting them to land. In a 
few minutes, every spar, grating, and piece of timber 
that could be procured, were afloat, and completely oc¬ 
cupied ; some with two people, others with more, accord¬ 
ing to the size. “ I immediately (says the captain) 
stripped off my shirt, put on a short jacket, wrapped a 
shawl round my waist, in the corner of which I put a 
gold watch, and keeping my breeches on, seized a spar 
and launched into the sea. For nearly three quarters of 
an hour I preserved my hold, and drifted towards the 
shore. Sometimes I was cast so near as to touch the 
rocks with my feet, then hurried away to a considerable 
distance; again I was precipitated forward, and in a 
moment afterwards carried off by the returning sea. At 
length a sudden jerk, occasioned by the swell, strained 
both my arms, and I was compelled to quit the spar. 
At this instant, although a considerable distance from 
the beach, a wave that was proceeding rapidly towards 
the shore bore me along, and in a few moments cast me 
senseless on the sand. My people who were on shore 
observed my situation; they ran down, and snatching 
me from the danger of the coming waves, bore me to 
a place of security. I was insensible at this time, but 
soon revived, as they placed me near a fire, and used 
every means in their power for my recovery. The first 
subject of inquiry, when my faculties returned, was, of 
course, the fate of my unfortunate crew; and I enjoyed 
the heart-felt pleasure of beholding them all around me, 
except them in the longboat, and one man, who perished 
near the shore. I then addressed myself to the natives; 
but on this occasion I labored under the difficulty of not 
being understood. I knew nothing of their language, 
and for some time I endeavored to explain myself by 
signs. Fortunately there was a Hottentot present, who 
had lived with the Dutch farmers, and could speak their 
language. My third mate was a Dutchman, and these 
served as interpreters. 

“ This difficulty being happily removed, I endeavored 


4 



Loss of the Hercules. Page 64. 




















































































































































































































































































LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 65 

by every means in my power to secure the friendship of 
the natives. I thanked them in the name of my whole 
crew, and on the part of my nation, for the liberal and 
humane assistance they had afforded us in the hour of 
our misfortune, and solicited their future kindness and 
support. 

“ This being, as I conceived, at no great distance from 
the spot where the Grosvenor was lost in 1782,1 inquired 
of the natives whether any of them remembered such a 
catastrophe. Most of them answered in the affirmative, 
and, ascending one of the sand-hills, pointed to the place 
where the Grosvenor suffered. 

“ I then desired to know of them whether they had 
received any certain accounts respecting the fate of cap¬ 
tain Coxson, who commanded the Grosvenor, and who 
was proceeding on his way to the Cape, with several 
men and women passengers, who were saved from the 
wreck. They answered, that captain Coxson and his 
men were slain. One of the chiefs having insisted on 
taking two of the white ladies to his kraal, the captain 
and people resisted, and not being armed, were immedi¬ 
ately destroyed. The natives, at the same time, gave 
me to understand, that at the period when the Grosvenor 
was wrecked, their nation was at war with the colonists; 
and as the captain and his crew were whites, they could 
not tell, provided they had reached the Christian farms, 
but they would assist the colonies in the war. This 
affected my situation so directly, that I desired to know 
on what terms the Caffres and the colonists then stood. 
‘ We are friends,’ said they, ‘ and it will be their fault if 
we are not always so.’ 

“ This answer relieved me from a very serious embar¬ 
rassment ; but the fate of the two unfortunate ladies gave 
me so much uneasiness, that I most earnestly requested 
of them to tell me all they knew of their situation; whe¬ 
ther they were alive or dead ; and if living, in what part 
of the country they were situated. They replied, and 
with apparent concern, that one of the ladies had died 
a short time after her arrival at the kraal; but. they un¬ 
derstood the other was living, and had several children 
6 * 


66 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


by the chief. ‘ Where she now is,’ said they, ‘ we know 
not. 5 

“ After 1 had received every possible information on 
this melancholy subject, we employed ourselves princi¬ 
pally during the remainder of the day in assisting the 
natives to save whatever came on shore from the wreck. 
When they got a piece of timber, they placed it immedi¬ 
ately on the fire, as the readiest method of procuring the 
iron, which they sought after with the most persevering 
diligence. 55 

When night came on, the natives retired, and they left 
us to sleep under the sand-hills, without covering, and 
without food. The weather was boisterous, and a strong 
wind from the westward, and the cold severe: a consul¬ 
tation was held in what manner they should dispose of 
themselves until morning, and they at length resolved 
that some of them should keep watch during the night, 
and the rest place themselves near the fire, and, if possi¬ 
ble, obtain a little rest. 

The night passed without any of the unfortunate suf¬ 
ferers enjoying a moment of repose. Their bodies on 
one side were heated by the fire, but the cold chilled the 
other in such a manner as to render the pain hardly 
supportable. The sand, driven by the winds in prodi¬ 
gious quantities, filled their eyes, ears, and mouths, as 
they lay under the banks, and kept them in perpetual 
motion. They likewise entertained apprehensions re¬ 
specting the natives. 

At length day appeared, and the Caffres returned in 
great numbers. The chief, knowing they were in want 
of food, brought a bullock, which they immediately 
slaughtered by knocking the animal on the head with 
clubs, and penetrating its sides with their spears. It 
was skinned almost in a moment, and they cut it up in 
lumps, which they placed on the fire to singe, rather 
than to roast, and then devoured their respective shares 
with the highest satisfaction. The beast, as it*was given 
to the famished crew, it might be supposed would be 
left for their own disposal; but the Caffres were hungry, 
and they knew nothing of European etiquette. It is true 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIR HERCULES. 67 

they presented the bullock to them as a donation; but 
they saw no reason why they should flot dispose of the 
greater part of it. 

On cutting up the animal, it was observed they paid 
more than ordinary attention to the paunch. Several of 
the Cadres laid violent hands on it; and after giving it 
a shake for the purpose of emptying the contents, they 
tore the greater part in slits with their teeth, and swal¬ 
lowed the whole as it came warm from the beast. 

Their meal, such as it was, being finished, part of the 
crew proceeded to the shore, and the longboat was ob¬ 
served at a considerable distance. The ship was divid¬ 
ing very fast, and the gale increasing; many things 
were therefore cast on shore, which the Caffres were 
indefatigable in procuring. A cask, however, was 
thrown on the beach, which considerably excited the 
captain’s anxiety : it contained sixty gallons of rum, a 
quantity sufficient to have intoxicated the whole of the 
natives, although they amounted to at least three hun¬ 
dred. The predilection for such liquor is well known, 
and the consequences of their intoxication were particu¬ 
larly dreaded by the captain. The only way left was 
to steal to the spot where the cask lay, and stave in the 
head without being perceived by them. This was hap¬ 
pily accomplished, and they afterwards stripped the ves¬ 
sel of the iron hoops, without discovering what had 
been done, or what it formerly contained. 

In the general search on the shore, one of the Caffres 
had picked up the ship’s compass. Not knowing what 
it was, yet pleased with its formation, he delivered it to 
the chief, who immediately took it to pieces; and after 
contemplating the various parts, took the copper ring in 
which it hung, and suspended it from his neck. He 
appeared highly pleased with the ornament; and this 
circumstance induced the captain to present him with 
one still more glittering, and of course, in his estimation, 
more valuable : recollecting that he had in his possession 
a pair of paste knee-buckles, he presented them to the 
chief, and hung one upon each of his ears. 

The moment this was done, the chief stalked about 


68 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


with an air of uncommon dignity. His people seemed 
to pay him greater reverence than before, and they were 
employed for some time in gazing at the brilliancy of the 
ornaments, and contemplating the august deportment of 
their chief magistrate. 

Towards evening the captain again addressed the 
chief on the subject of their departure. He requested he 
would send a guide with them through the deserts to 
the first Christian settlement, and that nothing should 
be wanting on his part to recompense his kindness. 
The Caffre paused for a moment, and then very coolly 
replied, that he would gratify the captain’s wishes; and 
being desired to name the time when he would suffer 
them to depart, he gravely answered, “ When I consider 
that matter you shall be made acquainted with my de¬ 
termination.” This answer alarmed the unfortunate 
sufferers. The countenance of the savage appeared to 
discover some hostile measure that was lurking in his 
mind; and yet his former conduct was so liberal and 
humane, that they had no just ground for suspecting 
his integrity. The natives, however, were perceived 
consulting together in parties, and from their gestures 
nothing favorable could be perceived. When the day 
was drawing to a close, the crew was left to rest under 
the sand-hills, as on the former night. 

The fire was recruited with some timber from the 
wreck, and sentinels placed as before. The wind blow¬ 
ing hard from the same quarter, they were again tor¬ 
mented with clouds of sand, and a chilling atmosphere. 
June being one of the winter months, they had to en¬ 
counter the severities of the season. It was impossible 
to shift their quarters, as they could not procure timber 
to light new fires, and the Caffres might be displeased at 
their not remaining in their former situation. The night 
passed in consultations and gloomy predictions. The 
captain told his people not to do any thing that might 
have the least tendency to displease the natives; to give 
-hern every thing they asked for, as the inhabitants of 
these deserts were only to be dreaded when provoked ; 
Lut at the same time, if, contrary to their expectation, 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 69 

they made an attack, or endeavored to detain them after 
a certain time, then he hoped they would firmly unite, 
and either force their way or perish in the conflict. 

When the sun made its appearance, they mounted the 
most elevated of the sand-hills to look out for the long¬ 
boat; but she was not to be discovered in any direction. 
In a short time they perceived the Cadres advancing. 
Most of them had assagays in their hands; others were 
furnished with clubs; some were decorated with ostrich 
feathers, and their chief wore a leopard-skin, 'With the 
captain’s knee-buckles suspended as before. They sa¬ 
luted the crew in a very friendly maimer, and were 
accompanied by them to the beach. The wind had 
increased during the night, and several parts of the ship 
came on shore. One of the people had picked up a 
handsaw, and as he perceived the Cadres were indefa¬ 
tigable in procuring iron, he hid it in the sands. This 
was a valuable acquisition, and became of infinite ser¬ 
vice to them in the course of their proceedings. 

Having secured all they could obtain from the wreck, 
the captain requested the chief to order some of his peo¬ 
ple to display their skill in the use of the assagays. This 
is a spear of about four feet six inches in length, made of 
an elastic wood, and pointed with iron, which the natives 
contrive to poison so effectually, that if it wounds either 
man or beast, death is the inevitable consequence. 

The captain’s wishes were immediately gratified. 
The Caflres first placed a block of wood on the ground? 
and then retired about seventy yards from the spot where 
it lay. The chief then said they would now behold 
their manner of fighting when engaged in battle. These 
compliances, as they seemed to remove former suspicions, 
gave great satisfaction to the sufferers. A party of about 
thirty began their manoeuvring. They first ran to a 
considerable distance; then fell, as if motionless, on the 
ground; in a moment they started up, divided, joined 
again, and ran in a compact body to the spo$ from 
whence they originally set out. After halting for about 
a minute, they let fly a shower of assagays at the mark, 
and with a precision that was truly astonishing. 


70 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Not a word more passed this day about the departure 
of the crew. The natives retired as usual on the ap¬ 
proach of night. All were employed to gather wood; 
and after procuring a sufficient quantity, they stretched 
themselves on the ground, and in spite of wind, sand, 
and cold, slept until morning. 

When day appeared, all were again employed in look¬ 
ing out for the longboat; hut she was not to be seen, nor 
did they ever hear of her again. 

The Caffres did not make their appearance this day 
until the sun had proceeded two hours in its course. As 
little now was to be procured from the wreck, captain 
Stout begged the chief to appoint a guide for himself and 
crew, as he proposed taking his departure on the next 
day. “ I *shall furnish you with two,” said the chief. 
These joyful tidings were delivered with so much frank¬ 
ness, that the captain was relieved at once from all ap¬ 
prehension and suspicion. 

Desirous of having the Hottentot who served as an in¬ 
terpreter to accompany them through the desert, the 
chief was given to understand how much the services of 
this man would not only contribute to their pleasure, but 
also to their safety. The honest savage, however, had 
anticipated their wishes; he had previously mentioned 
it to the Hottentot, who had consented to proceed to the 
first Christian farm. Another of the tribe, who was bet¬ 
ter acquainted with the country, had likewise agreed to 
be of the party; and this information, which was com¬ 
municated to the crew, diffused a general joy and satis¬ 
faction. 

After assuring the chief and the Caffres in general of 
our unalterable friendship, and that the guides should 
he rewarded to the extent of their wishes, “ I told him, 
(says the captain,) we had endured great distress for 
want of water, and begged to know where we could pro¬ 
cure some. 1 1 will conduct you,’ said he, ‘ to a spring 
of excellent water; it is not far from this place ; and, if 
you think proper, we will proceed directly to the spot.’ 
No sooner was the proposal made than we set out; the 
Caffres singing and dancing as they proceeded, and my 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


71 


people, although not without suspicion, in tolerable spi¬ 
rits.” 

After travelling westward about four miles through a 
delightful country, they came at last to a wood, in the 
bosom of which was discovered a hollow. The Caffres 
descended first, and when they all arrived at the bot¬ 
tom, the chief pointed to the brook. They drank of the 
water and found it delicious. After allaying their thirst, 
they looked about, and from the dismal appearance of the 
place, were again in a state of apprehension; being 
mostly of opinion, that nothing less was intended by the 
Caffres than to massacre the whole party in this se¬ 
questered place; that they were decoyed here for the 
purpose ; and that every man should prepare to defend 
his life. The captain, however, endeavored to quiet 
their apprehensions, and at last succeeded. 

The Caffres having invited the party to remain on 
this spot during the night, they began to prepare wood 
for the fires. All hands went to work, and by the as¬ 
sistance of a handsaw, they procured some dry trees and 
underwood, that afforded a very comfortable fire. One 
of the Hottentots, who was so rich as to possess a tinder- 
box, struck a light; and this accommodation being not 
only highly useful, but unexpected, gave new spirits to 
the whole party. 

The natives, as the night came on, did not retire as 
usual to their kraal. This gave a fresh alarm, which 
did not appear to be without some cause ; situated as the 
party then were, they were obliged to abide the event, 
and therefore prepared for the worst that could happen. 
The wato,h was set as formerly; but the Caffres, hud¬ 
dling together, were soon lost in sleep. This place, how¬ 
ever dismal in its appearance, afforded a tolerable shelter 
for the night; clouds of sand were no longer trouble¬ 
some, and the severities of the wind and cold were miti¬ 
gated by the friendly shade afforded by the trees. 

“ We were roused,” says the captain, “ by the savages, 
as the sun appeared, and we departed from this supposed 
Golgotha in tolerable spirits. We had, however, con¬ 
sumed the last pound of our bullock, before we left the 


72 


REMARKABLE shipwrecks. 


sand-hills, and our party began to dread an approaching 
famine. I mentioned the distress of my people to the 
chief, and he promised to relieve us. We had journeyed 
but a few miles, when the Caffres told us we must re¬ 
main where we were that night. We accordingly set to 
work to procure firewood, and had scarcely completed 
this necessary business, when the chief presented us with 
another bullock. It was soon despatched, skinned, cut 
into pieces of about four pounds each, and we then pro¬ 
ceeded to dress them as provision for our journey. This 
was a business of so much importance, that most of the 
day was spent in accomplishing it. 

The night passed with less apprehension than be¬ 
fore, and when the morning came, we prepared for our 
departure. 

u The moment now arrived when the real intentions 
of the Caffres were to be developed. The natives came 
about us, and assisted in dividing the provisions. Each 
man was to carry his own stock, which amounted to 
about three or four pounds of beef; this, with some bis¬ 
cuits, which a few of my people had contrived to pre¬ 
serve from the wreck, was to serve us until we reached 
a Christian settlement. So far from any appearance of 
hostility, the natives seemed to view our departure with 
regret. I took the chief by the hand, and thanked him 
for his great and friendly attentions to me and my un¬ 
fortunate crew ; assuring him at the same time, that if I 
survived the journey, it would ever be my first considera¬ 
tion to render him and his people some essential service. 
He thanked me, and then requested I would tell the 
colonists our ship was lost at sea, and so distant from the 
land that no part of her could possibly reach the shore. 
He also desired me to place the utmost confidence in my 
guides, as they would certainly direct me for the best. 
After my people and the natives had exchanged some 
mutual civilities, we parted, and gave one another a last 
and affectionate adieu. 7 ’ 

They did not take their departure on the morning of 
the 23d until the sun was well up. The guides were in¬ 
telligent, and gave them to understand that they must 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


73 


on no account travel early, as the wild beasts constantly 
rose with the sun, and then ranged the deserts in quest 
of their prey. As they were all unarmed, a single lion, 
leopard, or panther could have destroyed most of them. 
It became, therefore, highly necessary they should not 
stir until these animals had satisfied their liunger, and 
were retired for the day. 

Notwithstanding this cautious and necessary advice, 
and which was given with a laudable earnestness for 
their preservation, still the people were so desirous of 
getting on, that they grew uneasy; but the guides could 
not be induced to quit the fires until about nine o’clock, 
at which time they all proceeded, and in good spirits. 

Not more than three or four of the party were at this 
moment in possession of shoes. They had many hun¬ 
dred miles to travel through unknown countries, to as¬ 
cend mountains of stupendous elevation, penetrate woods, 
traverse deserts, and ford rivers; and yet they were to 
combat all these difficulties barefooted, not having saved 
above four pair of shoes, and even these but in a sad con¬ 
dition. 

“ As my feet were naked,” says the captain, u like 
most of my people, one of them offered me an old pair 
of boots which he then wore; but I refused them. My 
habiliments were a short jacket, a tablecloth, which I 
found on the shore, wrapt round my loins ; a shawl over 
it; four shirts, which I wore at the same time; a pair of 
trousers, and a hat. We bore to the westward on our 
setting out, for the purpose of obtaining fresh water in 
the course of our journey. Our guides observed, that 
near the coast the water was generally brackish; we 
therefore struck into the interior, and were not entirely 
disappointed in our expectations.” 

They now travelled through a country beautifully 
variegated with hills, dales, extensive plains finely 
watered, but less wooded than the former. The grass 
appeared of an extraordinary height; but in the course 
they pursued, not a human footstep could be traced; no 
cattle, nor sign of cultivation, could be observed. They 
were not interrupted by any beast of prey, although they 


74 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


constantly perceived their dung. At length, after travel¬ 
ling about thirty-five miles, they began to feel the want 
of water. 

Having searched for this indispensable aliment, with 
the utmost anxiety and attention, they were so fortunate 
as to discover, before sunset, a brook that ran near the 
corner of a wood ; and here they determined to rest for 
the night. They began, therefore, to prepare a sufficient 
quantity of fuel. The wood was chiefly composed of 
trees that partook in some degree of the nature of thorn : 
they cut several, and arranged their fires. One of the 
Caflres struck a light, and the whole, in a few minutes, 
was in a blaze. The tinder which he provided was of a 
particular description; it consisted of a pitchy substance, 
extracted from a reed, and so tenacious of fire, that a 
single spark from the steel caught it in a moment. The 
weather being cold, they resolved to sleep close to one 
another; but the guides told them the place they had 
fixed upon to rest during the night was known to be in¬ 
fested with leopards, and that, if they scented the party, 
nothing could prevent them from destroying some of 
them. This intelligence induced them to enlarge their 
fires, and they began to consult upon other measures 
that were likely to contribute also to their preservation. 
But such is the powerful influence of Morpheus over the 
harassed soul, that their conversation had scarcely com¬ 
menced on this important subject, when they were all 
relieved from any sense of danger, by gently falling into 
a sound sleep, in which they remained in perfect securi¬ 
ty until morning. 

No sooner had the sun peeped above the horizon, than 
they were all roused by the tremendous roaring of lions. 
Never were men in a situation more truly alarming. 
Had they discovered them during the night, they must 
have been torn to pieces when sleeping, as not an indi¬ 
vidual could attend the watch, or keep awake even for 
an hour. They therefore congratulated one another on 
finding they had all escaped, and set out about seven in 
the morning in company with their guides. They soon 
arrived at the bank of a small river, which, being per- 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHI? HERCULES. 75 

fectly dry, they crossed without difficulty. Shortly after 
they came to another, which they likewise passed in a 
few minutes. They reached at length some islands, from 
the tops of which they discovered several beautiful vales, 
clothed with long dry grass, and clusters of trees; in 
other places, forests of^ considerable extent, and skirting 
mountains of different elevations. In the course of the 
day they were in great distress for want of water, and 
lost much time in the pursuit of it. Indeed they almost 
despaired of finding any, as the earth appeared so dry as 
to exhaust all the brooks they had visited. Luckily, 
however, about sunset, they discovered a small rivulet 
that ran near the skirt of a forest; and, although the 
water was not good, yet it still relieved them from a 
dreadful situation. 

Having travelled this day about thirty miles, they de¬ 
termined to remain where they were during the night. 
All hands, therefore, went immediately to work, for the 
purpose of getting fuel. They had seen no wild ani¬ 
mals in the course of the day, but frequently observed 
the dung of the elephant and the rhinoceros. 

As their situation for this night was as dangerous and 
deplorable as on the preceding one, they determined to 
enlarge their fires, as the only means of safety they had 
left. This was accordingly done, and they had the 
pleasure to find, when the day appeared, that not an in¬ 
dividual was missing of the whole party. 

They proceeded on their journey shortly after sun¬ 
rise ; and, as they were to travel through a wood of con¬ 
siderable extent, the guides told them to be upon their 
guard, as they would certainly be interrupted by wild 
animals, which resorted to that place in prodigious num¬ 
bers. They determined, notwithstanding, to brave all 
dangers, and accordingly proceeded. They indeed es¬ 
caped the lions, the panthers, the rhinoceros, the ele¬ 
phant, &c. but, unfortunately, about noon, came up with 
a horde of CafFres, that were distinguished by their own 
countrymen as a bad tribe. They spoke at first to some 
Caffre women, who behaved kindly, and gave them 
one or two baskets of milk. These baskets are made 
of twigs, wove so closely together as to hold water. 


76 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Having proceeded but a short way, after receiving this 
instance of female liberality, they were stopped by twelve 
Cadre men, armed with spears, and clothed in leopard- 
skins. Their guides, alarmed at the appearance of these 
savages, flew to the banks of the great Fish river, which 
at that time was not more than two hundred yards from 
the place where they stood. They repeatedly called on 
them to return, but in vain; they immediately crossed 
the bed of the river, which was dry, and having reached 
the opposite shore, ascended an adjoining mountain with 
the utmost precipitation. The savages brandished their 
spears, and appeared by their gestures to menace the 
destruction of the people. They could not understand 
them, but supposed they demanded from them whatever 
articles they possessed; and as these principally consist¬ 
ed of the little stock of provisions they had left, and their 
clothes, they determined not to part with either. 

One of the captain’s people had a knife, which was 
slung over his shoulder. A Caflre perceiving it, made 
a snatch at the handle; but the owner resisting it, he 
lost his hold. This so enraged the savage, that he lifted 
up his assagay with an apparent intention of despatching 
the object of his resentment. At the moment he stood 
in this attitude, a more finished picture of horror, or what 
may be conceived of the infernals, was perhaps never 
seen before. The savage wore a leopard’s skin; his 
black countenance bedaubed with red ochre; his eyes, 
inflamed with rage, appeared as if starting from their 
sockets; his mouth expanded, and his teeth gnashing 
and grinning with all the fury of an exasperated demon. 
He was, however, diverted from his purpose, and drop¬ 
ped the assagay. 

The crew instantly proceeded to the river, and cross¬ 
ed it in pursuit of their guides, who were standing on 
the summit of the mountain ; when they came up, the 
guides expressed the utmost satisfaction at their escape. 
They gave them a terrible description of the people they 
had just left, and assured them, if the remainder of their 
horde had not been hunting at the time they got to the 
Fish river, not a man of them would have survived. 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 77 

They also declared, that they were the most abominable 
horde throughout the whole of Caffraria. 

Their conversation lasted but a few minutes, when 
they resolved to descend the mountain, and pursue their 
journey. Scarcely had they put themselves in motion, 
when a scene of the most extensive and luxuriant beau¬ 
ties burst in a moment on their view. The danger they 
had just escaped engaged their attention so entirely, 
when they gained the summit, that they did not im¬ 
mediately perceive the world of beauties that now lay 
spread before them. All stood for some time in a state 
of rapture and amazement. The country was mostly 
a level, yet pleasingly diversified with gentle elevations, 
on the tops of which they could perceive clumps of the 
mimosa tree, and the sides clothed with shrubs of vari¬ 
ous denominations. A thousand rivulets seemed to mean¬ 
der through this second Eden; frequently skirting or 
appearing to encircle a plantation of wood; then sud¬ 
denly taking a different direction, glided through a plain 
of considerable extent, until it came to a gentle declivi¬ 
ty ; here it formed a natural cascade, and then, follow¬ 
ing its course, proceeded in an endless variety through¬ 
out the whole of the country. 

As they stood gazing on this sylvan scene, they per¬ 
ceived innumerable herds of animals, particularly of the 
species of the gazelle, scouring over the plains; some 
darting through the woods, others feeding, or drinking at 
the rivulets. As far as the eye travelled in pursuit of 
new beauties, it was most amply gratified, until at length 
the whole gradually faded on the view, and became lost 
on the horizon. They were so wrapt in ecstasy in con¬ 
templating this landscape, that they forgot their danger, 
and remained too long upon the mountain. They at 
length descended and proceeded on their journey. 

Before the day closed they fixed on a place where 
they were to remain until the morning. It was near a 
wood, mostly composed of that kind of thorn already 
mentioned. Several of these they immediately cut, not 
only for the purpose of fuel, but to form a barricade or 
defence against the wild animals during the night. 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


re 


After completing their fortification, lighting the fires, 
and supping in the best manner possible, they lay down 
to rest; but their sleep was constantly disturbed during 
the night by a herd of elephants brushing through the 
wood, passing and returning almost every moment. Had 
not the fence been erected the preceding evening, they 
would in all probability have been trampled to death by 
these monstrous animals. They had the good fortune 
however to escape; and, about seven the next morning, 
proceeded on their journey, in company with the guides. 

They travelled this day through a delightful country. 
The land, in some places, seemed to be composed of a 
red and yellow clay, and the valleys appeared covered 
with a very thick and long grass, but not a sign of agri« 
culture was to be observed. In the course of the day 
they perceived a few deserted huts, one of which they 
entered, but paid severely for their curiosity, as those 
who ventured in were in a moment entirely covered 
with fleas. 

Water was found sometimes, but it was brackish, al¬ 
though they were at least fifty miles from the sea. They 
kept at this distance during most of the journey. 

They brought up for the night, after travelling about 
thirty-five miles, at the skirt of a small forest, and pro¬ 
vided fuel, With a temporary defence, as before. The 
provisions being nearly exhausted, they were obliged to 
eat sparingly, although most of them were ravenously 
hungry. 

About seven in the morning they again set out; but 
many of the people dropped astern in the course of the 
day, being almost worn out with fatigue. In this situa¬ 
tion it was thought advisable for such of the party as 
could travel to get forward, and provide a place where 
wood and water could be had. The captain was of this 
company; and that all those who remained behind 
might find their way, he ordered the Caflre guides to set 
fire to the long grass, which served during the night as 
a point of direction. He was likewise in expectation of 
their coming up before morning, but was sadly disap¬ 
pointed. They remained stationary until the sun ap¬ 
peared, and then went on. 


LOSS Of THE AMERICAN SHIR HEfeCULES. 79 

Not one of the people left behind appeared this morn¬ 
ing; but the guides were of opinion they would reach a 
Christian settlement in the course of the day, where as¬ 
sistance would certainly be had. This intelligence gave 
them new spirits; and they travelled with unusual alert¬ 
ness until they came to a farm-house. Here relief was 
expected, but none was to be found: the whole place 
had been deserted for some time; they were obliged, 
therefore, to sleep again in the air, and leave their 
absent and miserable companions to all the horrors of 
the desert. 

This was not a night of sleep, but lamentation. They 
sat round the fire, and spoke of nothing but their absent 
messmates, and their unfortunate situation. They were 
left defenceless, without food, hardly able to stand erect, 
and in a country where the ferocious animals were most 
numerous. They were likewise every hour in danger of 
an attack from the Boshis-men, who swarm in these parts, 
and destroy the unhappy objects of their vengeance with 
arrows that are poisoned. The sensibility of the people 
on this melancholy occasion displayed the genuine cha¬ 
racter of a sailor. Men who could brave all the dangers 
of the tempest, and face death without a trembling 
nerve, even in the cannon’s mouth, could not, however, 
speak of their distressed and absent brethren without a 
tear. Their own misfortunes were forgotten, and their 
only consideration, during the night, was their unhappy 
messmates, whom they never expected to behold again. 

They remained here for more than an hour after the 
rising of the sun. Out of sixty, that composed the party 
when they departed from the beach, thirty-six were so 
maimed and worn down by fatigue as to be unable to 
travel: these remained in the desert, if not already de¬ 
stroyed, and had no hope of preservation but by the 
exertions of the party who were able to proceed. The 
guides were now certain that a Christian habitation was 
at hand. The last they saw had been destroyed by the 
Caffrcs in the war with the colonists: it was therefore 
determined to proceed to a place where relief could be 
obtained, with every possible despatch. The people 


80 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS* 


proceeded with redoubled energy; the salvation of their 
companions was the incentive, and that consideration 
banished every idea of danger or fatigue. 

They travelled without a single halt for about three 
hours, when one of the guides, who was advanced, 
roared out, in a transport of joy, “ I see a Hottentot, 
attending a flock of sheep.” It was the voice of a seraph 
proceeding from a Caflre. They all ran to the place 
where he stood, and, at a considerable distance, observed 
a man attending a flock of at least four thousand. They 
moved in a body towards the shepherd, who seemed at 
first to be alarmed; but perceiving that they were mostly 
whites, and unarmed, he stopped until they came up. 
The captain requested of him to direct them the nearest 
way to the first settlement, which he did, and at the 
same time informed us the proprietor was a good man; 
the distance, he said, was about three miles. The plea¬ 
sure diffused through the party, on receiving this infor¬ 
mation, it is impossible to describe. The captain em¬ 
braced this opportunity, and went on; a general joy 
succeeded, and who should be foremost was the princi¬ 
pal consideration. 

At length—ecstatic reflection!—they came within sight 
of a Christian farm. “Come on, my lads,” said the 
captain, “we are safely moored at last; and our people 
in the deserts will be soon relieved.” Some tottered as 
they stood, overcome with joy, and could not move; 
others appeared as in a trance, until at length about ten 
followed him, and they entered the house of Jan du 
Pliesies. 

Fortunately, this was a settler of the best order, about 
sixty years old, born in Holland, but who had resided in 
Africa for many years p humane, generous, and possess¬ 
ing a heart that appeared to be the constant mansion of 
a virtuous sympathy. His cottage was formed of clay, 
thatched with a kind of reed, and furnished with a few 
stools, a table, and some kitchen utensils. His family 
consisted of five or six sons, their wives and children, 
together with a daughter, making together about twen¬ 
ty people. His stock, however, was considerable, not 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 81 

less than twelve thousand sheep, and one thousand 
oxen. 

After the alarm which their first appearance occa¬ 
sioned had subsided, the captain told the story of their 
melancholy disaster, and implored his assistance for the 
relief of the unhappy people who were left behind. 
This good man could not listen to the relation without 
discovering by his countenance the tenderness of his 
nature. His face, which was naturally pallid, became 
at certain intervals of a crimson hue: these emotions 
appeared as the effervescence of sensibility, and to exhi¬ 
bit, in glowing colors, the complexion of virtue. 

As no time, he said, should be lost in preparing for 
the relief of the unfortunate people, he immediately di¬ 
rected two of his sons to harness eight oxen to a wagon. 
His orders were obeyed with a cheerfulness that evinced 
an hereditary goodness, and that it had descended, un¬ 
impaired, from the sire to his children. They were di¬ 
rected to travel all night; and the guides described the 
spot so minutely as to avoid all possibility of a mistake. 
The wagon was soon out of sight, and they all sat down 
to partake of a sheep, which our liberal host had ordered 
to be killed for their entertainment. 

When the meal was over, the worthy colonist began 
to interrogate them respecting their journey through 
Crffraria. He could not possibly conceive, he said, how 
the Tambochis could be induced to suffer their depar¬ 
ture. They were such a horrid race, that nothing was 
so gratifying to their nature as the shedding of human 
blood. The Boshis-men, he also observed, were so nu¬ 
merous, and so perpetually on the look-out, that he was 
amazed at their travelling with any degree of security; 
but when he considered that they came through a part of 
Caffraria so infested with carnivorous animals that peo¬ 
ple could never travel safely but in parties, and well 
armed, he declared their being then in his house ap¬ 
peared to him a kind of miracle. 

The captain took this opportunity of giving our wor¬ 
thy host a proper idea of the Tambochis. His mind had 
been poisoned by some of his depredating neighbors, and 


82 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


never going on such parties himself, he had entertained 
these prejudices without having an opportunity of know¬ 
ing the contrary. He appeared much pleased at the 
conduct of the Tambochis during our abode in their 
country, and declared this circumstance alone would 
relieve him from many hours of uneasiness. 

His sequestered mansion was nearly surrounded by 
trees, on which were hung to dry the skins of lions, ti¬ 
gers, panthers, and other destructive animals killed in 
the vicinity of his own habitation. The carcasses of 
two enormous creatures were observed lying near the 
door, which had the appearance of being recently de¬ 
stroyed. They were two rhinoceroses that the farmer’s 
sons had killed, but the day before, on their own land. 
This gave rise to a narrative respecting these animals, 
which the good man related with great circumspection, 
and which appeared very extraordinary. 

“These creatures,” said the farmer, “are more sa¬ 
vage, and infinitely more to be dreaded, than any other 
animal of the deserts. Even the lion, when he perceives 
a rhinoceros, will fly from him in an instant. I had a 
proof of this,” said he, “ about two years ago. As I was 
traversing my lands in the morning, I perceived a lion 
entering a thicket, about the distance of half a mile from 
the place where I stood. In a few minutes after I ob¬ 
served a second, then a third, and a fourth came; they 
seemed to follow one another at their leisure, and, in less 
than an hour, I counted nine that entered the same wood. 
Never having seen so many of the same species together, 
I was desirous to know the event of their meeting, and I 
concealed myself for the purpose. After waiting for 
rather more than an hour in my lurking place, without 
either seeing any of them or hearing any noise from the 
quarter where they lay, I began to despair of having my 
curiosity in the least gratified. At length I perceived a 
rhinoceros of uncommon magnitude approach the wood. 
He stood motionless for about five minutes when he ar¬ 
rived at a small distance from the thicket, then tossed 
up his nose, and at last scented the animals that lay con¬ 
cealed. In an instant I saw him dart into the wood, and 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 83 

m the space of about five minutes afterwards I observed 
all the lions scamper away in different directions, and 
apparently in the greatest consternation. The rhinoceros 
beat about the wood in pursuit of his enemies for a con¬ 
siderable time; but not finding any, he broke covert at 
last and appeared on the plain. He then looked around 
him, enraged at his disappointment, began tearing up the 
earth, and discovered every sign of madness and despe¬ 
ration. I remained quietly in my retreat until the ani¬ 
mal disappeared, and then returned to my house.” 

The travellers slept this night on sacks, which their 
host had arranged for their accommodation. At break¬ 
fast on the succeeding morning, their benefactor enter¬ 
tained them with some very interesting observations 
respecting the country where he resided. He particular¬ 
ly stated the hardships which the colonists endured from 
the restrictive orders and persecuting conduct of the go¬ 
vernment at the Cape. “ I have lead ore,” said he, “ on 
my own farm, so near the surface that we can scrape it 
up with our hands, and yet we dare not touch it. If we 
were known to melt and use a single pound of it, we 
should all be transported, for life, to Batavia.” 

Before they had finished their meal, their benefactor 
despatched messengers to his neighboring friends, de¬ 
siring their assistance to get the crew to the Cape. Se¬ 
veral of them came and behaved with the greatest ten¬ 
derness and liberality. They went so far as to say, that 
such as were desirous of remaining in the country till 
they were perfectly recovered, should be accommodated 
at their houses; and as they travelled once in every year 
to the Cape, they would take the first opportunity of 
conveying them thither. The captain thanked them for 
their kindness, but declined accepting their proposal, as 
his intention was to make the Cape with every possible 
expedition. 

This conversation was interrupted by a Hottentot ser¬ 
vant who ran into the house and declared the “ wagon 
was in sight.” All flew to meet it, and the captain had 
the heart-felt consolation of perceiving twenty-three 
of his unfortunate people, chiefly lascars, lying down 


84 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


in the machine. On their arrival, the two sons of Pliesies 
said they found them near a wood, perfectly resigned to 
their fate, having given up all hopes of relief. The pre¬ 
ceding thirteen of their companions had separated from 
them; but where they had strayed to not one of them 
could even guess at. These poor fellows, after enduring 
for a long time the most unexampled miseries, all arrived 
in safety at the Cape. 

They were now forty-seven in number, and as they 
were to proceed in wagons, such as were afflicted with 
sore feet, or weak, through hunger and fatigue, would 
not again be separated from their companions. 

Their benevolent host now provided them with a wa¬ 
gon and two sets of oxen, each set containing eight. 
They were occasionally to relieve each other on the 
way, and two or three Hottentot servants were appointed 
as drivers, and to take charge of the relaying cattle. 
One of the farmer’s sons, completely armed, was likewise 
directed to attend them, and the wagon was stored with 
provisions and water sufficient for them until they should 
arrive at the next settlement. 

They took their departure from the hospitable mansion 
of the benevolent Du Pliesies on the morning of the 2d of 
July. The guard was perpetually on the watch, lest the 
Boshis-men or the wild animals might dart upon them 
unperceived. About eight o’clock in the evening, how¬ 
ever, they reached the second farm in perfect security. 
The distance travelled was about thirty-five miles this 
day, and all the people in good spirits. 

The owner, whose name was Cornelius Englebrock, 
they found also a benevolent character. His cottage 
was poor indeed, but all that, he could afford he gave 
with cheerfulness. His neighbor’s letter was produced, 
which he read with great attention, and then said, “ My 
friend is a good man, and I always valued him; but you 
wanted no other recommendation to my poor services 
than your misfortunes.” 

They remained here during the night, after partaking 
of a frugal repast which their host had provided, and 
which was given with many innocent apologies for its 
scantiness. 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 85 

Before their departure on the ensuing morning, the 
farmer generously presented them with nine sheep. The 
poor man lamented that he could not let them have a 
morsel of bread. “We live, (said he,) the year round 
chiefly on mutton and game, but seldom enjoy the luxury 
of a loaf.” He insisted, however, on the captain’s taking 
the sheep, which he accepted with many thanks, and 
they then departed on their journey. 

During the four or five succeeding days, they travelled 
on from house to house, generally at fifteen or sixteen 
miles’ distance from each other, and were received at all 
of them with a disinterested hospitality. These occur¬ 
rences are related with a scrupulous attention to fidelity, 
because the colonists, without distinction, have been fre¬ 
quently represented as a ferocious banditti, scarcely to 
be kept within the pale of authority. 

During several days’ travelling they could get but little 
bread, and not much water. The countries were alter¬ 
nately hill and dale, and often afforded the most romantic 
prospects. They frequently perceived vast quantities of 
wolves, and such droves of that species of deer which 
the farmers call spring-buck, that one flock alone could 
not contain less than from twelve to fourteen thousand. 
Indeed many of the settlers said they had seen double that 
number at one time, and frequently killed three at a sin¬ 
gle shot. Our travellers likewise saw vast quantities of 
guinea-fowl, which after a shower of rain are easily 
caught by the farmers’ dogs. 

The zebra, or wild ass, is common in these advanced 
colonies, and many of them were seen. Ostriches were 
likewise very numerous. They had such plenty of veni¬ 
son at the houses where they stopped, that their stock of 
nine sheep, furnished by honest Englebrock, was dimi¬ 
nished but three in the course of six days. 

From the 8th to the 14th of July, their journey was 
not interrupted by any disagreeable occurrence. The 
countries through which they passed displayed at every 
mile a new change of beauties. The mountains were in 
many places of stupendous height, and the valleys, deco¬ 
rated with wood, were astonishingly fertile in vegetable 
8 


86 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


productions. One of the most extensive of these valleys 
took them no less than three days and a half in passing. 
It is called by the settlers Long Cluff, and affords, per¬ 
haps, as many romantic scenes as can be found in any 
spot of the same extent on the face of the earth. 

The hills, for seventy or eighty miles, run parallel to 
each other. The lands between are wonderfully rich, 
and produce vast quantities of a plant similar in its taste 
and smell to our thyme. On this fragrant herb are fed 
immense quantities of sheep ^and cattle; they devour it 
with great eagerness, and it gives the mutton a flavor so 
like our venison, that an epicure might be deceived in 
the taste. The valleys are generally level, from four to 
eight miles in breadth, and in several places intersected 
with rivulets, on the borders of which are frequently 
perceived whole groves of the aloe-tree. 

On or about the 14th, they reached the settlement of 
an old and blind man. He had a large family, and ap¬ 
peared to possess a comfortable independence. When he 
heard the story of the travellers, the good farmer burst into 
tears, and ordered a glass of brandy to be given to each 
of the crew. After this unusual and cheering repast, he 
directed some mutton to be delivered to the people, and 
gave them a pot to dress it in. He then requested the 
captain to mess with the family, which was complied 
with, and when supper was ended, this worthy creature 
said he was so pleased with their escaping the dangers 
of the seas, and the Caffres, that he would celebrate the 
meeting with a song. He immediately began and sung 
with the voice of a Stentor. A general plaudit succeed¬ 
ed ; and then the honest benefactor said, “ Now, captain, 
I have a favor to ask of you. Pray, desire all your peo¬ 
ple to sing.” It was impossible to help laughing at this 
whimsical request; but it was thought good-humor, at 
such a moment, should not be interrupted; therefore an 
American sailor was desired to sing one of his best songs. 
He no sooner began than all the lascars tuned their 
pipes; this set agoing the Swedes, Portuguese, and 
Dutchmen, and all the crew; each party sung in their 
different languages, and at the same time. Such a con- 


LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIP HERCULES. 


87 


cert was never heard before; the liberal and merry Cid 
colonist was so entertained with their music, that he had 
nearly dropped from his chair in a fit of laughter. 

The captain was provided this night with a sheep¬ 
skin, on which he rested under the roof of the farmer’s 
cottage; but there was not room for all, and therefore 
most of the poor fellows were obliged to sleep in the air. 
A similar inconvenience had happened so frequently 
since they reached the colonies, that they determined to 
separate. 

On the morning of the 17th they separated, and the 
captain took with him his chief and third mate, together 
with one or two more, who were solicitous to accompany 
him. The country, as they advanced, ihcreased in po¬ 
pulation ; and the farm-houses were, in several places, 
not more than two miles’ distance from each other. Ma¬ 
ny of them were beautifully situated, and the lands pro¬ 
duced grain, oranges, figs* and lemons in abundance. 
Their grapes likewise appeared to flourish, and supplied 
them with wine and brandies, which they vended chiefly 
at the Cape. Vast herds of deer, and partridges out of 
all number, were seen, and immense tracts of land co¬ 
vered entirely with aloe-trees 

From the 17th to the 21st, they travelled a mountain¬ 
ous country; but the valleys constantly presented farms 
and habitations where the industry of the husbandman 
was amply rewarded. The flocks of sheep were prodi¬ 
gious ; but the cattle were not so numerous, nor in such 
good condition, as those seen in the more advanced 
colonies. 

On the 22d they arrived at Zwellingdam, and pro¬ 
ceeded to the landorse-house. The landorse is the chief 
man of the place, and his settlement consists of about 
sixteen or eighteen houses, surrounded by a delightful 
country, and producing grain, vegetables for culinary 
purposes, grapes, and fruits of almost every description. 

This gentleman gave them a very hospitable reception, 
and the next morning furnished the captain with a horse 
and guide, to conduct him to his brother-in-law’s. That 
nothing might be omitted on his part to secure a favora- 


88 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ble reception at the Cape, the captain’s worthy host gave 
them a very kind letter to his friend general Craig, com¬ 
mander in chief, acquainting him with the loss of the 
ship, and the miseries endured by the crew in their 
travels through the desert. He also requested the gene¬ 
ral would do them every kindness in his power, which 
he would acknowledge as an obligation conferred upon 
himself. 

They arrived at the settlement of Johannes Brinch, 
at Stallen Bush, on the third or fourth day, after travel¬ 
ling a country highly cultivated, and producing immense 
forests of the aloe-tree. The farmers live here in afflu¬ 
ence, and the crew continued to experience the most 
liberal and kind attention during the remainder of their 
journey. 

On their arrival at Stallen Bush, the captain waited on 
Mr. Brinch, whose reception can nev§r be mentioned but 
in terms of the most fervent 'gratitude and esteem. His 
residence is one of those delightful places which, from its 
natural situation and fertility, wraps the beholder, the 
moment he sees it, in a kind of ecstasy. The vines 
there are reared with great attention, and are highly 
productive. Grain, vegetation, and fruits, yield abundant 
crops; and camphor-trees of very large dimensions thrive 
also in the settlement. Indeed, the whole settlement 
seemed to be so precisely what it should be, that any al¬ 
teration must be a deformity. The people here dress well, 
but nearer the English than the Dutch style. They have 
nothing of that sullen taciturnity belonging to the charac¬ 
ter of the Hollander, but are sprightly and good-humored. 

“ I remained two days (says the captain) under the 
roof of this liberal and benevolent gentleman. He 
pressed me to stay longer; but I was desirous of reach¬ 
ing the Cape, and therefore declined his hospitable invi¬ 
tation. In the morning, therefore, he provided me with 
a horse and guide, and I took my departure from Stallen 
Bush, on the 30th, in the morning. Our journey was 
but short, ,as we arrived the same evening at the Cape 
of Good Hope; and although emaciated in my frame, 
yet in tolerable health.” 


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Loss of the Litchfield. Page 90, 
















LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LITCHFIELD, 
Of Fifty* Guns, on the Coast of Barbary , Nov. 30, 1758. 

The Litchfield, captain Barton, left Ireland on the 
11th of November, 1758, in company with several other 
men-of-war and transports, under the command of com¬ 
modore Keppel, intended for the reduction of Goree. 
The voyage was prosperous till the 29th, when at eight 
in the evening I took charge of the watch, and the 
weather turned out very squally, with rain. At nine it 
was extremely dark, with much lightning, the wind va¬ 
rying from S. W. to W. N. W. At half past nine, had a 
very hard squall. Captain Barton came upon deck and 
staid till ten; and then left orders to keep sight of the 
commodore, and make what sail the weather would per¬ 
mit. At eleven saw the commodore bearing south, but 
the squalls coming on so heavy, we were obliged to hand 
the main top-sail, and at twelve o’clock were under our 
courses. 

November 30th, at one in the morning, I left the deck 
in charge of the first lieutenant; the light, which we took 
to be the commodore’s, right ahead, bearing S., wind 
W. S. W., blowing very hard. At six in the morning I 
was awaked by a great shock, and a confused noise 
of the men on deck. I ran up, thinking some ship had 
run foul of us, for by my own reckoning, and that of 
every other person in the ship, we were at least thirty- 
five leagues distant from land; but, before I could reach 
the quarter-deck, the ship gave a great stroke upon the 
ground, and the sea broke over her. Just after this I 
could perceive the land, rocky, rugged and uneven, about 
two cables’ length from us. The ship lying with her 
broadside to windward, the masts soon went overboard, 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


90 

carrying some men with them. It is impossible for any 
but a sufferer to feel our distress at this time; the masts, 
yards, and sails hanging alongside in a confused heap; 
the ship beating violently upon the rocks; the waves 
curling up to an incredible height, then dashing down 
with such force as if they would immediately have split 
the ship to pieces, which we, indeed, every moment ex¬ 
pected. Having a little recovered from our confusion, 
we saw it necessary to get every thing we could over to 
the larboard side, to prevent the ship from heeling off, 
and exposing the deck to the sea. Some of the people 
were very earnest to get the boats out, contrary to ad¬ 
vice ; and, after much entreaty, notwithstanding a most 
terrible sea, one of the boats was launched, and eight of 
the best men jumped into her; but she had scarcely got 
to the ship’s stern when she was hurled to the bottom, 
and every soul in her perished. The rest of the boats 
were soon washed to pieces on the deck. We then 
made a raft with the davit, capstan-bars, and some 
boards, and waited with resignation for Providence to 
assist us. The ship soon filled with water, so that we 
had no time to get any provisions up; the quarter-deck 
and poop were now the only places we could stand upon 
with security, the waves being mostly spent by the time 
they reached us, owing to their breaking over the fore 
part of the ship. 

At four in the afternoon, perceiving the sea to be much 
abated, one of our people attempted to swim, and got 
safe on shore. There were numbers of Moors upon the 
rocks ready to take hold of any one, and beckoned much 
for us to come ashore, which, at first, we took for kind¬ 
ness ; but they soon undeceived us, for they had not the 
humanity to assist any that was entirely naked, but 
would fly to those who had any thing about them, and 
strip them before they were quite out of the water, 
wrangling among themselves about the plunder. In the 
mean time the poor wretches were left to crawl up the 
rocks if they were able, if not, they perished unregarded. 
The second lieutenant and myself, with about sixty-five 
others, got ashore before dark, but were left exposed to 


Loss op His majesty’s ship Litchfield. 91 

the weather on the cold sand. To preserve ourselves 
from perishing of cold, we were obliged to go down to 
the shore, and to bring up pieces of the wreck to make a 
fire. While thus employed, if we happened to pick up 
a shirt or handkerchief, and did not give it to the Moors 
at the first demand, the next thing was a dagger pre¬ 
sented to our breasts. 

They allowed us a piece of an old sail, which they 
did not think worth carrying off: with this we made 
two tents, and crowded ourselves into them, sitting be¬ 
tween one another’s legs to preserve warmth, and make 
room. In this uneasy situation, continually bewailing 
our misery, and that of our poor shipmates on the wreck, 
we passed a most tedious night, without so much as a 
drop of water to refresh ourselves, excepting what we 
caught through our sail-cloth covering. 

November 30th, at six in the morning, went down 
with a number of our men upon the rocks, to assist our 
shipmates in coming ashore, and found the ship had been 
greatly shattered in the night. It being now low water, 
many attempted to swim ashore; some arrived, but 
others perished. The people on board got the raft into 
the water, and about fifteen men placed themselves upon 
it. They had no sooner put off from the wreck than it 
overturned; most of them recovered again, but scarcely 
were they on, before it was a second time overturned. 
Only three or four got hold of it again, and all the rest 
perished. In the mean time, a good swimmer brought 
with much difficulty a rope, which I had the good for¬ 
tune to catch hold of, just when he was quite spent, and 
had thoughts of quitting it. Some people coming to my 
assistance, we pulled a large rope ashore with that, and 
made it fast round a rock. We found this gave great 
spirits to the poor souls upon the wreck; for, it being 
hauled taught from the upper part of the stern, made an 
easy descent to any who had art enough to walk or slide 
upon a rope, with a smaller rope fixed above to hold by. 
This was the means of saving a number of lives, though 
many were washed off by the impetuous surf, and pe¬ 
rished. The flood coming on, raised the surf, and pro- 



92 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


vented any more from coming at that time, so that thei 
ropes could be of no further use. We then retired from 
the rocks; and hunger prevailing, we set about broiling 
some of the drowned turkeys, &c. which, with some flour 
mixed into a paste, and baked upon the coals, constitut¬ 
ed our first meal upon this barbarous coast. We found 
a well of fresh water about half a mile off, which very 
much refreshed us. But we had scarcely finished this 
coarse repast, when the Moors, who were now grown 
numerous, drove us all down to the rocks to bring up 
empty iron-bound casks, pieces of the wreck which had 
the most iron about them, and other articles. 

About three o’clock in the afternoon we made another 
meal on the drowned poultry, and finding that this was 
the best provision we were likely to have, some were 
ordered to save all they could find, others to raise a 
larger tent, and the rest sent down to the rocks to look 
for people coming ashore. The surf greatly increasing 
with the flood, and breaking upon the fore part of the 
ship, she was divided into three parts; the fore part 
turned keel up, the middle part soon dashed into a thou¬ 
sand pieces ; the fore part of the poop likewise fell at this 
time, and about thirty men with it, eight of whom got 
ashore with our help, but so bruised that we despaired 
of their recovery. Nothing but the after part of the 
poop now remained above water, and a very small part 
of the other decks, on which our captain, and about one 
hundred and thirty more, remained, expecting every wave 
to be their last. Every shock threw some off; few or 
none of whom came on shore alive. During this dis¬ 
tress, the Moors laughed uncommonly, and seemed much 
diverted when a wave, larger than usual, threatened 
the destruction of the poor wretches on the wreck. Be¬ 
tween four and five o’clock the sea was much decreased 
with the ebb: the rope being still secure, the people be¬ 
gan to venture upon it; some tumbled off and perished, 
but others reached the shore in safety. 

About five, we beckoned as much as possible for the 
captain to come upon the rope, as this seemed to be as 
good an opportunity as any we had seen; and many 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LITCHFIELD. 93 

arrived in safety with our assistance. Some told us 
that the captain was determined to stay till all the men 
had quitted the wreck; however, we still continued to 
beckon for him, and before it was dark saw him come 
upon the rope. He was closely followed by a good able 
seaman, who did all he could to keep up his spirits and 
assist him in warping. As he could not swim, and had 
been so many hours without refreshment, with the surf 
hurling him violently along, he was unable to resist the 
force of the waves, had lost his hold of the great rope, 
and must inevitably have perished, had not a wave 
thrown him within the reach of our ropes, which he had 
barely sufficient sense to catch hold of. We pulled him 
up, and after resting a short time on the rocks, he came 
to himself, and walked up to the tent, desiring us to con* 
tinue to assist the rest of the people in coming on shore. 
The villains, the Moors, would have stripped him, though 
he had nothing on but a plain waistcoat and breeches, 
if we had not plucked up a little spirit and opposed them; 
upon which they thought proper to desist. The people 
continued to come ashore, though many perished in the 
attempt. The Moors, at length, growing tired with 
waiting for so little plunder, would not suffer us to re¬ 
main on the rocks, but drove us all away. I then, with 
the captain’s approbation, went, and by signs made hum¬ 
ble supplication to the bashaw, who was in the tent di¬ 
viding the valuable plunder. He understood qs at last, 
and gave us permission to go down, at the same time 
sending some Moors with us. We carried firebrands 
down to let the poor souls on the wreck see that we were 
still there in readiness to assist them. About nine at 
night, finding that no more men would venture upon the 
rope, as the surf was again greatly increased, we retired 
to the tent, leaving, by the account of the last man that 
arrived, between thirty and forty souls upon the wreck. 
We now thought of stowing every body in the tent, and 
began by fixing the captain in the middle; then made 
every man lie down on his side, as we could not afford 
them each a breadth; but, after all, many took easier 
lodgings in empty casks. 


94 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


The next morning the weather was moderate and fair. 
We found the wreck all in pieces on the rocks, and the 
shore covered with lumber. The people upon the wreck 
all perished about one in the morning. In the afternoon 
we called a muster, and found the number of the survi¬ 
vors to be two hundred and twenty ; so that one hundred 
and thirty perished on this melancholy occasion. 

On the 2d of December, the weather still continued, 
moderate. We subsisted entirely on the drowned stock, 
and a little pork to relish it, and the flour made into 
cakes; all of which we issued regularly and sparingly, 
being ignorant whether the Moors would furnish us with 
any thing, they being still very troublesome, and even 
wanting to rob us of the canvass which covered our tent. 
At two in the afternoon a black servant arrived, sent by 
Mr. Butler, a Dane, factor to the American Company 
at Saffy, a town at the distance of about thirty miles, to 
inquire into our condition and to offer us assistance. 
The man having brought pens, ink and paper, the cap¬ 
tain sent back a letter by him. Finding there was one 
who offered us help, it greatly refreshed our afflicted 
hearts. 

In the afternoon of the following day we received a 
letter from Mr. Butler, with some bread, and a few other 
necessaries. On the 4th the people were employed in 
picking up pieces of sails, and whatever else the Moors 
would permit them. We divided the crew into messes, 
and served the necessaries we received the preceding 
day. They had bread, and the flesh of the drowned 
stock. In the afternoon we received another letter from 
Mr. Butler, and one at the same time from Mr. Andrews, 
an Irish gentleman, a merchant at Saffy. The Moors 
were not so troublesome now as before, most of them 
going off with what they had got. 

On the 5th the drowned stock was entirely consumed, 
and at low water the people were employed in collecting 
muscles. At ten in the morning Mr. Andrews arrived, 
bringing a French surgeon with medicines and plasters, 
of which some of the men, who h^d been dreadfully 
bruised, stood in great need. The following day we 


v 


loss of his majesty’s ship litchfield. 95 

served out one of the blankets of the country to every 
two men, and pampooses, a kind of slippers, to those 
who were in most want of them. These supplies were 
likewise brought us by Mr. Andrews. The people were 
now obliged to live upon muscles and bread, the Moors, 
who promised us a supply of cattle, having deceived us, 
and never returned. 

The people on the 7th were still employed in collect¬ 
ing muscles and limpets. The Moors began to be a lit¬ 
tle civil to us, for fear the emperor should punish them 
for their cruel treatment to us. In the afternoon a mes¬ 
senger arrived from the emperor at Sallee, with general 
orders to the people to supply us with provisions. They 
accordingly brought us some lean bullocks and sheep, 
which Mr. Andrews purchased for us; but at this time 
we had no pots to make broth in, and the cattle were 
scarcely fit for any thing else. 

In the morning of the 10th we made preparations for 
marching to Morocco, the emperor having sent orders for 
that purpose, and camels to carry the lame and the ne¬ 
cessaries. At nine, set off with about thirty camels, 
having got all our liquor with us, divided into hogs¬ 
heads, for the convenience of carriage on the camels. At 
noon, joined the crews of one of the transports, and a 
bomb-tender, that had been wrecked about three leagues 
to the northward of us. We were then all mounted 
upon camels, excepting the captain, who was furnis’hed 
with a horse. We never stopped till seven in the eve¬ 
ning, when they procured us two tents only, which 
would not contain one third of the men, so that most of 
them lay exposed to the dew, which was very heavy, 
and extremely cold. We found our whole number to be 
three hundred and thirty-eight, including officers, men, 
boys, and three women and a child, which one of the wo¬ 
men brought ashore in her teeth. 

On the 11th continued our journey, attended by a 
number of Moors on horseback. At six in the evening 
we came to our resting-place for that night, and were 
furnished with tents sufficient to cover all our men. 

At five in the morning of the 12th, we set out as be- 


96 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


fore, and, at two in the afternoon, saw the emperor’s 
cavalcade at a distance. At three, a relation of the em¬ 
peror’s, named Muli Adrix, came to us, and told the 
captain it was the emperor’s orders he should that in¬ 
stant write a letter to our governor at Gibraltar, to send 
to his Britannic majesty to inquire whether he would 
settle a peace with him or not. Captain Barton imme¬ 
diately sat down upon the grass and wrote a letter, 
which, being given to Muli Adrix, he went and joined 
the emperor again. At six in the evening came to our 
resting-place for the night, and were well furnished with 
tents, but very little provisions. 

We were, the following day, desired to continue on 
the same spot, till the men were refreshed, and this re¬ 
pose they greatly needed, and we received a better sup¬ 
ply of provisions. That morning lieutenant Harrison, 
commanding the soldiers belonging to lord Forbes’ re¬ 
giment, died suddenly in the tent. In the evening, while 
employed with his interment, the inhuman Moors dis¬ 
turbed us by throwing stones and mocking us. The 
next day we found that they had opened the grave and 
stripped the body. 

On the 16th we continued our journey, came to oui 
resting-place at four in the afternoon, pitched the tents, 
and served out the provisions. Here our people were 
ill-treated by some of the country Moors. As they were 
taking water from a brook, the Moors would always spit 
into the vessel before they would suffer them to take it 
away. Upon this some of us went down to inquire into 
the affair, but were immediately saluted with a shower 
of stones. We ran in upon them, beat some of them 
pretty soundly, put them to flight, and brought away 
one, who thought to defend himself with a long knife 
This fellow was severely punished by the officer who 
had the charge of conducting us. 

The two succeeding days continued our journey, and, 
at three in the afternoon of the 18th, arrived at the city 
of Morocco, without having seen a single habitation 
during the whole journey. Here we were insulted by 
the rabble, and, at five, were carried before the emperor, 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LITCHFIELD. 97 

surrounded by five or six hundred of his guards. He 
was on horseback before the gate of his palace, that be¬ 
ing the place where he distributes justice to his people. 
He told captain Barton, by an interpreter, that he was 
neither at peace nor war with England, and he would 
detain us till an ambassador arrived from that country to 
conclude a permanent treaty. The captain then desired 
that we might not be treated as slaves. He answered 
hastily, that we should be taken care of. We were then 
immediately hurried out of his presence, conveyed to 
two old ruinous houses, shut up amidst dirt and innu¬ 
merable vermin of every description. Mr. Butler being 
at Morocco on business, came and supplied us with 
victuals and drink, and procured liberty for the captain 
to go home with him to his lodgings. He likewise sent 
some blankets for the officers, and we made shift to 
pass the night with tolerable comfort, being very much 
fatigued. 

At nine in the morning of the 21st, the emperor sent 
orders for the captain and every officer to appear before 
him. We immediately repaired to his palace; we re¬ 
mained waiting in an outer yard two hours; in the mean 
time he diverted himself with seeing a clumsy Dutch 
boat rowed about in a pond by four of our petty officers. 
About noon we were called before him, and placed in a 
line about thirty yards from him. He was sitting in a 
chair by the side of the pond, accompanied only by two 
of his chief alcaids. Having viewed us some time, he 
ordered the captain to come forward, and after asking 
him a good many questions concerning our navy, and 
destination of the squadron to which we had belonged, 
we were also called forward by two and three at a time 
as we stood according to our rank. He then asked most 
of us some very insignificant questions, and took some 
to be Portuguese because they had black hair, and 
others to be Swedes because their hair was light. He 
judged none of us to be English excepting the captain, 
the second lieutenant, the ensign of the soldiers, and my¬ 
self. But assuring him we were all English, he cried 
Bon?io, and gave a nod for our departure, to which we 
9 


98 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


returned a very low bow, and were glad to return to our 
old ruined houses again. Our total number amounted to 
thirty. 

On the 25th, being Christmas day, prayers were read 
to the people as usual in the church of England. The 
captain this day received a present of tea and loaves of 
sugar from one of the queens, whose grandfather had 
been an English renegado. 

In the afternoon of the 26th we received the disa¬ 
greeable intelligence that the emperor would oblige all 
the English to work, like all the other Christian slaves, 
excepting the officers who were before him on the 21st. 
The next day this account was confirmed; for, at seven 
in the morning, an alcaid came and ordered all our 
people to work, excepting the sick. Upon our applica¬ 
tion, eight were allowed to stay at home every day to 
cook for the rest, and this office was performed by turns 
throughout the whole company. At four in the after¬ 
noon the people returned, some having been employed 
in carrying wood, some in turning up the ground with 
hoes, and others in picking weeds in the emperor’s gar¬ 
den. Their victuals was prepared for them against their 
return. 

On the 28th, all the people went to work as soon as 
they could see, and returned at four in the afternoon. 
Two of the soldiers received one hundred bastinadoes 
each, for behaving in a disrespectful manner while the 
emperor was looking at their work. 

On the 30th, captain Barton received a kind message 
from the emperor, with permission to ride out or take a 
walk in his garden with his officers. 

From this time the men continued in the same state 
of slavery till the arrival, in April, of captain Milbank, 
sent as an ambassador to the emperor. He concluded a 
treaty for the ransom of the crew of the Litchfield, to¬ 
gether with the other English subjects in the emperor’s 
power, and the sum stipulated to be paid for their re¬ 
lease was one hundred and seventy thousand dollars. 
Our people accordingly set out for Sallee, attended by a 
bashaw and two soldiers on horseback. On the fourth 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY T S SHIP LITCHFIELp. 99 

day of their maich they had a skirmish with some of 
the country Moors. The dispute began in consequence 
of some of our men in the rear stopping at a village to 
buy some milk, for which, after they had drank it, the 
Moors demanded an exorbitant price. This our men 
refused to give, on which the Moors had recourse to 
blows, which our people returned; and others coming to 
their assistance, they maintained a smart battle, till the 
enemy became too numerous. In the mean time some 
rode off to call the guard, who instantly came up with 
their drawn scimetars, and dealt round them pretty 
briskly. During this interval we were not idle, and had 
the pleasure to see the blood trickling down a good many 
of their faces. The guards seized the chief man of the 
village, and carried him before the bashaw, who was our 
conductor, and who, having heard the cause, dismissed 
him without farther punishment, in consideration of his 
having been well drubbed by us. 

On the 22d of April we arrived at Sallee, and pitched 
our tents in an old castle, from whence we soon after¬ 
wards embarked on board the Gibraltar, which landed 
us at Gibraltar on the 27th of June. From that place 
the captain and crew were put on board the Marlborough 
store ship, prepared expressly for their reception, and ar¬ 
rived in England in the month of August, 1760. 


LOSS OF THE PORTUGUESE VESSEL THE 
ST. JAMES, 

Off the Coast of Africa , in 1586. 

In the month of May, 1586, intelligence was received 
at Goa of the loss of the admiral’s ship, the St. James. 
The account of this disaster stated, that after doubling 
the cape of Good Hope, the captain, conceiving he had 
neither rocks nor other dangers to dread, proceeded un¬ 
der full sail, without observing his charts, or at least not 
with the attention he ought. Having a favorable wind, 
he made much way in a short time, but was driven out 
of his course towards the rocks called Bassas de India, 
distant about fifty leagues from the island of Madagas¬ 
car, and seventy from the continent. 

Perceiving they were so near these rocks, and in im¬ 
minent danger of striking upon them, several of the pas¬ 
sengers, who had frequently traversed those seas, were 
much alarmed. They represented to the captain, that 
being in the midst of the rocks, it was extremely danger¬ 
ous to suffer the ship to run under full sail, particularly 
during the night, and in a season when tempests were 
very frequent. The captain, regardless of their prudent 
remonstrances, exerted his authority, ordered the pilots 
to follow his commands, adding, that the king’s com¬ 
mission entitled him to obedience, and that his opinion 
ought to be taken in preference. However, between 
eleven and twelve o’clock the same night the vessel was 
driven towards the rocks, and struck without a possibi¬ 
lity of being got off. A confused cry of distress resound¬ 
ed, in every direction, from a multitude composed of 
above five hundred men and thirty women, who, having 
no other prospect before their eyes hut inevitable de¬ 
struction, bewailed their fate with the bitterest lamenta- 
































































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Loss of the St. James. Page 101 . 






























































































































































































































































































































































































LOSS OF THE PORTUGUESE VESSEL THE ST. JAMES. 101 

lions. Every effort to save the ship proved ineffectual. 
The admiral, Fernando Mendoza, the captain, the first 
pilot, and ten or twelve other persons, instantly threw 
themselves into the boat, saying they would seek upon 
the rocks a proper place for collecting the wreck of the 
ship, with which they might afterwards construct a ves¬ 
sel large enough to convey the whole of the crew to the 
continent. With this view they actually landed on the 
rock, but being unable to find a spot proper for the exe¬ 
cution of their design, they did not think proper to re¬ 
turn to the ship, but resolved to steer towards the African 
coast. Some provisions which had been thrown in haste 
into the boat were distributed among them; they then 
directed their course towards the continent of Africa, 
where they arrived in safety, after a voyage of seventeen 
days, and enduring all the horrors of famine and tern- % 
pestuous weather. 

Those who remained on board, finding that the boat 
did not return, began to despair of saving their lives. 
To add to their distress, the vessel parted between the 
two decks, and the pinnace was much damaged by the 
repeated shocks she sustained from the fury of the waves. 
The workmen, though very expert, despaired of being 
able to repair her, when an Italian, named Cypriano Gri¬ 
maldi, leaped into her, accompanied by ninety of the 
crew, and, assisted by most of those who had followed 
him, instantly fell to work to put her into a condition 
to keep the sea. 

Those who could not get on board the pinnace beheld 
her bearing away from the wreck with tears and lamen¬ 
tations. Several who could swim threw themselves into 
the sea, in the hope of overtaking her; and some were 
on the point of getting on board, when their more fortu¬ 
nate comrades, fearing they should be sunk with the 
weight of all those who endeavored to. obtain admittance, 
pushed them back into the sea, and with their sabres 
and hatchets cut, without mercy, the hands of such as 
would not quit their hold. It is impossible to describe 
the anguish of those who remained on the floating frag¬ 
ments of the wreck, and witnessed this barbarous scene. 

9 * 


102 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Seeing themselves cut off from every resource, their cries 
and lamentations would have melted the hardest heart. 
The situation of those in the pinnace was not much bet¬ 
ter; their great number, the want of provisions, their 
distance from the land, and the bad condition of the cra¬ 
zy bark that bore them, contributed to fill them with 
gloomy presentiments. Some of the most resolute, how¬ 
ever, to prevent the anarchy and confusion which would 
have aggravated their misery, proposed to their compa¬ 
nions to submit to the authority of a captain. To this 
they all agreed, and immediately chose a nobleman of 
Portuguese extraction, but born in India, to command 
them, investing him with absolute power. He instantly 
employed his authority, in causing the weakest, whom 
he merely pointed out with his finger, to be thrown over¬ 
board. In the number of these was a carpenter, who 
had assisted in repairing the pinnace; the only favor he 
requested was a little wine, after which he suffered him¬ 
self to be thrown into the sea without uttering a word. 
Another, who was proscribed in the same manner, was 
saved by an uncommon exertion of fraternal affection. 
He was already seized and on the point of being sacri¬ 
ficed to imperious necessity, when his younger brother 
demanded a moment's delay. He observed that his 
brother was skilful in his profession, that his father and 
mother were very old, and his sisters not yet settled in 
life ; that he could not be of that service to them which 
his brother might, and, as circumstances required the 
sacrifice of one of the two, he begged to die in his stead. 
His request was complied with, and he was accordingly 
thrown into the sea. But this courageous, youth fol¬ 
lowed the bark upwards of six hours, making incessant 
efforts to get on board, sometimes on one side, and some¬ 
times on the other, while those who had thrown him 
over endeavored to keep him off with their swords. But 
that which appeared likely to accelerate his end proved 
his preservation. The young man snatched at a sword, 
seized it by the blade, and neither the pain, nor the exer¬ 
tions made by him who held it, could make him quit his 
grasp. The others, admiring his.resolution, and moved 
with the proof of fraternal affection which he had dis- 


LOSS OF THE PORTUGUESE VESSEL THE ST. JAMES. 103 

played, unanimously agreed to permit him to enter the 
pinnace. At length, alter having endured hunger and 
thirst, and encountered the dangers of several tempests, 
they landed on the coast of Africa, on the twentieth day 
after their shipwreck, and there met with their compa¬ 
nions who had escaped in the first boat. 

The rest of the crew and passengers left on the wreck 
likewise attempted to reach the land. Collecting some 
loose rafters and planks, they formed a kind of raft, but 
were overwhelmed by the first sea, and all perished, 
excepting two who gained the shore. Those who had 
reached the coast of Africa had not arrived at the end of 
their sufferings; they had scarcely disembarked when 
they fell into the hands of the Cadres, a savage and in¬ 
human people, who stripped and left them in the most 
deplorable state. However, mustering up their courage 
and the little strength they had left, they arrived at the 
place where the agent of the Portuguese, at Sofala and 
Mozambique, resided. By him they were received with 
the utmost humanity, and after reposing a few days, 
after their fatigues, they reached Mozambique, and re¬ 
paired from thence to India. Only sixty survived out 
of all those who had embarked in the St. James; all the 
rest perished, either at sea, of fatigue, or hunger. Thus 
the imprudence of an individual occasioned the loss of a 
fine vessel, and the lives of above four hundred and fifty 
persons. 

Upon thp captain’s return to Europe, the widows and 
orphans of the unfortunate sufferers raised such loud 
complaints against him that he was apprehended and 
put in prison; but he was soon afterwards released. 
The former catastrophe was not a sufficient lesson for 
this self-sufficient and obstinate man. He undertook 
the command of another vessel in 15S8, and had nearly 
lost Iter in the same manner, and in the same place. 
Fortunately, at sunrise he discovered the rocks, towards 
which he was running with the same imprudence as in 
his former voyage. But on his return from India to 
Portugal he was lost, together with the vessel he was 
on board of; thus meeting with the just punishment of 
his culnahle obstinacy and misconduct- 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR, 

Of Seventy-four Guns, September 23, 1782. 

After the decisive engagement in the West Indies, on 
the glorious 12th of April, 1782, when the French fleet 
under count fe Wrasse was defeated by admiral Sir 
George Rodney, several of the captured ships, besides 
many others,.were either lost or disabled, on their home¬ 
ward-bound passage, with a large convoy. Among those 
lost was the Centaur, of seventy-four guns, whose com¬ 
mander, captain Inglefield, with the master and ten of 
the crew, experienced a most providential escape from 
the general fate. 

The captain’s narrative affords the best explanation of 
the manner and means by which this signal deliverance 
was effected. Those only who are personally involved 
in such a calamity can describe their sensations with 
full energy, and furnish, in such detail, those traits of 
the heart which never fail to interest. 

The Centaur (says captain Inglefield) left Jamaica in 
rather a leaky condition, keeping two hand-pumps going, 
and when it blew fresh, sometimes a spell with a chain- 
pump was necessary. But I had no apprehension that 
the ship was not able to encounter a common ^ale of 
wind. 

In the evening of the 16th of September, when the 
fatal gale came on, the ship was prepared for the worst 
weather usually met in those latitudes, the main-sail 
was reefed and set, the top-gallant masts struck, and 
the mizzen-yard lowered down, though at that time it 
did not blow very strong. Towards midnight it blew a 
gale of wind, and the ship made so much water that I 
was obliged to turn all hands up to spell the pumps. 
The leak still increasing, I had thoughts to try the ship 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 105 

before the sea. Happy I should have been, perhaps, had 
1 in this been determined. The impropriety of leaving 
the convoy, except in the last extremity, and the hopes 
of the weather growing moderate, weighed against the 
opinion that it was right. 

About two in the morning the wind lulled, and we 
flattered ourselves the gale was breaking. Soon after 
we had much thunder and lightning from the south-east, 
with rain, when it began to blow strong in gusts of wind, 
which obliged me to haul the main-sail up, the ship be¬ 
ing then under bare poles. This was scarcely done, 
when a gust of wind, exceeding in violence any thing of 
the kind I had ever seen or had any conception of, laid 
the ship upon her beam ends. The water forsook the 
hold and appeared between decks, so as to fill the men’s 
hammocks to leeward: the ship lay motionless, and to 
all appearance irrecoverably overset. The water in¬ 
creasing fast, forced through the cells of the ports, and 
scuttled in the ports from the pressure of thg ship. I 
gave immediate directions to cut away the main and 
mizzen masts, hoping when the ship righted to wear her. 
The mizzen-mast went first, upon cutting one or two of 
the lanyards, without the smallest effect on the ship; 
the main-mast follo wed, upon cutting the lanyard of one 
shroud; and I had the disappointment to see the fore¬ 
mast and bowsprit follow. The ship upon this immedi¬ 
ately righted, but with great violence; and the motion 
was so quick, that it was difficult for the people to work 
the pumps. Three guns broke loose upon the main- 
deck, and it was some time before they were secured. 
Several men being maimed in this attempt, every mova¬ 
ble was destroyed, either from the shot thrown loose 
from the lockers, or the wreck of the deck. The offi¬ 
cers, who had left their beds naked when the ship over¬ 
set in the morning, had not an artiele of clothes to put 
on, nor could their friends supply them. 

The masts had not been over the sides ten minutes 
before I was informed the tiller had broken short in the 
rudder-head ; and before the chocks could be placed, the 
rudder itself was gone. Thus wo were as much disas- 


106 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


tered as it was possible, lying at the mercy of the wind 
and sea: yejt I had one comfort, that the pumps, if any 
thing, reduced the water in the hold; ana as the morn¬ 
ing came on (the 17th) the weather grew more mode¬ 
rate, the wind having shifted, in the gale, to north¬ 
west. 

At daylight I saw two line-of-battle ships to leeward; 
one had lost her fore-mast and bowsprit, the other her 
main-mast. It was the general opinion on board the 
Centaur, that the former was the Canada, the other the 
Glorieux. The Ramilies was not in sight, nor more 
than fifteen sail of merchant ships. 

About seven in the morning 1 saw another line-of-bat¬ 
tle ship ahead of us, which I soon distinguished to be the 
Yille de Paris, with all her masts standing. I immedi¬ 
ately gave orders to make the signal of distress, hoisting 
the ensign on the stump of the mizzen-mast, union down¬ 
wards, and firing one of the forecastle guns. The ensign 
blew away soon after it was hoisted, and it was the only 
one we had remaining; but I had the satisfaction to see 
the Yille de Paris wear and stand towards us. Several 
of the merchant ships also approached us, and those that 
could hailed, and offered their assistance; but depending 
upon the king’s ship, I only thanked them, desiring, if 
they joined admiral Graves, to acquaint him of our con¬ 
dition. I had not the smallest doubt but the Yille de S 
Paris was coming to us, as she appeared to us not to 
have suffered in the least by the storm, and having seen 
her wear, we knew she was under government of her 
helm; at this time, also, it was so moderate that the 
merchantmen set their top-sails: but, approaching with¬ 
in two miles, she passed us to windward; this being ob¬ 
served by one of the merchant ships, she wore and came 
under our stern, offering to carry any message to her. I 
desired the master would acquaint captain Wilkinson 
that the Centaur had lost her rudder, as well as her 
masts; that she made a great deal of water, and that 1 
desired he would remain with her until the weather 
grew moderate. I saw the merchantman approach af¬ 
terwards near enough to speak to the Yille de Paris, but 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 107 

1 am afraid that her condition was much worse than it 
appeared to be, as she continued upon that tack. In the 
mean time all the quarter-deck guns were thrown over¬ 
board, and all but six, which had overset, off the main- 
deck. The ship, lying in the trough of the sea, labored 
prodigiously. 1 got over one of the small anchors, with 
g. boom and several gun carriages, veering out from the 
head-door by a large hawser, to keep the ship’s bow* to 
the sea; but this, with a top-gallant sail upon the stump 
of the mizzen-mast, had not the desired effect. 

As the evening came on it grew hazy, and blew strong 
in squalls. We lost sight of the Yille de Paris, but I 
thought it a certainty that we should see her the next 
morning. The night was passed in constant labdr at 
the pump. Sometimes the wind lulled, and the water 
diminished; when it blew strong again, the sea rising, 
the water again increased. 

Towards the morning of the 18th I was informed there 
was seven feet water upon the kelson; that one of the 
winches was broken; that the two spare ones would not 
fit, and that the hand-pumps were choked. These cir¬ 
cumstances were sufficiently alarming; but upon open¬ 
ing the after-hold to get some rum up for the people, we 
found our condition much more so. 

It will be necessary to mention, that the Centaur’s af¬ 
ter-hold was inclosed by a bulk-head at the after part of 
the well; here all the dry provisions and the ship’s rum 
were stowed upon twenty chaldrons of coal, which un¬ 
fortunately had been started on this part of the ship, and 
by them the pumps were continually choked. The 
chain-pumps were so much worn as to be of little use; 
and the leathers, which, had the well been clear, would 
have lasted twenty days, or more, were all consumed in 
eight. At this time it was observed that the water had 
not a passage to the well, for there was so much that it 
washed against the orlop-deck. All the rum, twenty-six 
puncheons, and all the provisions, of which there was 
sufficient for two months, in casks, were staved, having 
floated with violence from side to side until there was 
not a whole cask remaining: even the staves that were 


108 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


found upon clearing the hold were most of them broken 
in two pieces. In the fore-hold we had a prospect of 
perishing: should the ship swim, we had no water but 
what remained in the ground tier; and over this all the 
wet provisions, and butts filled with salt-water, were 
floating, and with so much motion that no man could 
with safety go into the hold. There was nothing left 
for us to try but bailing with buckets at the fore-hatch¬ 
way and fish-room; and twelve large canvas buckets 
were immediately employed at each. On opening the 
fish-room we were so fortunate as to discover that two 
puncheons of rum, which belonged to me, had escaped. 
They were immediately got up, and served out at times 
in drams; and had it not been for this relief, and some 
lime-juice, the people would have dropped. 

We soon found our account in bailing; the spare pump 
had been put down the fore-hatchway, and a pump 
shifted to the fish-room; but the motion of the ship had 
washed the coals so small, that they had reached every 
part of the ship, and the pumps were soon choked. 
However, the water by noon had considerably dimi¬ 
nished by working the buckets; but there appeared no 
prospect of saving the ship, if the gale continued. The 
labor was too great to hold out without water; yet the 
people worked without a murmur, and indeed with 
cheerfulness. 

At this time the weather was more moderate, and a 
couple of spars were got ready for shears to set up a 
jury fore-mast; but as the evening came on, the gale 
again increased. We had seen nothing this day but 
the ship that had lost her main-mast, and she appeared 
to be as much in want of assistance as ourselves, having 
fired guns of distress; and before night I was told her 
fore-mast was gone. 

The Centaur labored so much, that I had scarcely a 
hope she could swim till morning. However, by great 
exertion of the chain-pumps and bailing, we held our 
own, but our sufferings for want of water were very 
great, and many of the people could not be restrained 
from drinking salt-water. 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 


109 


At daylight (the 19th) there was no vessel in sight; 
and flashes from guns having been seen in the night, we 
feared the ship that we had seen the preceding day had 
foundered. Towards ten o’clock in the forenoon the 
weather grew more moderate, the water diminished in 
the hold, and the people were encouraged to redouble 
their efforts to get the water low enough to break a cask 
of fresh water out of the ground tier; and some of the 
most resolute of the seamen were employed in the at¬ 
tempt. At noon we succeeded with one cask, which, 
though little, was a seasonable relief. All the officers, 
passengers, and boys, who were not of the profession of 
seamen, had been employed thrumming a sail, which 
was passed under the ship’s bottom, and I thought it 
had some effect. The shears were raised for the fore¬ 
mast ; the weather looked promising, the sea fell, and at 
night we were able to relieve at the pumps and bailing 
every two hours. By the morning of the 20th the fore¬ 
hold was cleared of the water, and we had the comforta¬ 
ble promise of a fine day. It proved so, and I was deter¬ 
mined to make use of it with every possible exertion. I 
divided the ship’s company, with the officers attending 
them, into parties, to raise the jury fore-mast; to heave 
over the lower-deck guns; to clear the wrecks of the 
fore and after holds; to prepare the machine for steering 
the ship, and to work the pumps. By night the after¬ 
hold was as clear as when the ship was launched; for, 
to our astonishment, there was not a shovel of coals 
remaining, twenty chaldrons having been pumped out 
since the commencement of the gale. What 1 have 
called the wreck of the hold, was the bulk-heads of the 
after hold, fish-room, and spirit-rooms. The standards 
of the cockpit, an immense quantity of staves and wood, 
and part of the lining of the ship, were thrown over¬ 
board. that if the water should again appear in the hold, 
we might have no impediment in bailing. All the guns 
were overboard, the fore-mast secured, and the machine, 
which was to be similar to that with which the Ipswich 
was steered, was in great forwardness; so that I was in 
hopes, the moderate weather continuing, that I should 
10 


110 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


be able to steer the ship by noon the following day, and 
at least save the people on some of the Western Islands. 
Had we had any other ship in company with us, I should 
have thought it my duty to have quitted the Centaur 
this day. 

This night the people got some rest by relieving the 
watches; but in the morning of the 21st we had the 
mortification to find that the weather again threatened, 
and by noon it blew a gale. The ship labored greatly, 
and the water appeared in the fore and after-hold, and 
increased. The carpenter also informed me that the 
leathers were nearly consumed; and likewise that the 
chains of the pumps, by constant exertion and the fric¬ 
tion of the coals, were considered as nearly useless. 

As we had now no other resource but bailing, I gave 
orders that scuttles should be cut through the decks to 
introduce more buckets into the hold; and all the sail- 
makers were employed, night and day, in making can¬ 
vas buckets; and the orlop-deck having failed in on the 
larboard side, I ordered the sheet cable to be roused 
overboard. The wind at this time was at west, and 
being on the larboard tack, many schemes had been 
practised to wear the ship, that we might drive into a 
less boisterous latitude, as well as approach the Western 
Islands; but none succeeded: and having a weak car¬ 
penter’s crew, they were hardly sufficient to attend the 
pumps; so that we could not make any progress with 
the steering machine. Another sail had been thrummed 
and got over, but we did not find its use; indeed there 
was no prospect but in a change of weather. A large 
leak had been discovered and stopped in the fore-hold 
and another in the lady’s hole, but the ship appeared so 
weak from her laboring, that it was clear she could not 
last long. The after cock-pit had fallen in, the fore 
cock-pit, the same, with all the store rooms down; the 
stern post was so loose, that as the ship rolled, the water 
rushed in on either side in great streams, which we 
could not stop. 

Night came on, with the same dreary prospect as on 
the preceding, and was passed in continual efforts of 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. Ill 

labor. Morning came, (the 22d,) without our seeing any 
thing, or any change of weather, and the day was spent 
with the same struggles to keep the ship above water, 
pumping and bailing at the hatchways and scuttles. 
Towards night another of the chain pumps was render¬ 
ed quite useless, by one of the rollers being displaced at 
the bottom of the pump, and this wets without remedy, 
there being too much water in the well to get to it: we 
also had but six leathers remaining, so that the fate of 
the ship was not far off. Still the labor went on with¬ 
out any apparent despair, every officer taking ins share 
of it, and the people were always cheerful and obedient. 

During the night the water increased: but about seven 
in the morning of the 23d I was told that an unusual 
quantity of water appeared, all at once, in the fore-hold, 
which, upon my going forward to be convinced, I found 
but too true; the stowage of the hold ground-tier was 
all in motion, so that in a short time there was not a 
whole cask to be seen. We were convinced the ship had 
sprung a fresh leak. Another sail had been thrumming 
all night, and*I wa« giving directions to place it over the 
bows, when I perceived the ship settling by the head, 
the lower deck bow-ports being even with the water. 

At this period the carpenter acquainted me the well 
was staved in, destroyed by the wreck of the hold, and 
the chain pumps displaced and totally useless. There 
was nothing left but to redouble our efforts in bailing, 
but it became difficult to fill the buckets, from the quan¬ 
tity of staves, planks, anchor-stock, and yard-arm pieces, 
which were now washed from the wings, and floating 
from side to side with the motion of the ship. The peo¬ 
ple, till this period, had labored, as if determined to con¬ 
quer their difficulties, without a murmur or without a 
tear; but now seeing their efforts useless, many of them 
burst into tears and wept like children. 

I gave orders for the anchors, of which we had two 
remaining, to be thrown overboard, one of which (the 
spare anchor) had been most surprisingly hove in upon 
flie forecastle and midships, when the ship had been 
upon her beam ends, and gone through the deck. 


112 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

Every time that 1 visited the hatchway I observed the 
water increased, and at noon washed even with the or¬ 
lop-deck : the carpenter assured me the ship could not 
swim long, and proposed making rafts to float the ship’s 
company, whom it was not in my power to encourage 
any longer with a prospect of their safety. Some ap¬ 
peared perfectly resigned, went to their hammocks and 
desired their messmates to lash them in; others were 
lashing themselves to gratings and small rafts; but the 
most predominant idea was that of putting on their best 
and cleanest clothes. 

The weather, about noon, had been something mode¬ 
rate, and as rafts had been mentioned by the carpenter, 
I thought it right to make the attempt, though I knew 
our booms could not float half the ship’s company in fine 
weather; but we were in a situation to catch at a straw. 
I therefore called the ship’s company together, told them 
my intention, recommending to them to remain regular 
and obedient to their officers. Preparations were imme¬ 
diately made to this purpose ; the booms were cleared ; 
the boats, of which we had three, ^iz. cutter, pinnace, 
and five-oared yawl, were got over the side; a bag of 
bread was ordered to be put in each, and any liquors 
that could be got at, for the purpose of supplying the 
rafts. I had intended myself to go in the five-oared 
yawl, and the coxswain was desired to get any thing 
from my steward that might be useful. Two men, cap¬ 
tains of the tops, of the forecastle, or quartermasters, 
were placed in each of them, to prevent any person from 
forcing the boats, or getting into them until an arrange¬ 
ment was made. While these preparations were mak¬ 
ing, the ship was gradually sinking, the orlop-decks 
having been blown up by the water in the hold, and the 
cables floated to the gun-deck. The men had some time 
quitted their employment of bailing, and the ship was 
left to her fate. 

In the afternoon the weather again threatened, and 
blew strongly in squalls; the sea ran high, and one of 
the boats (the yawl) was staved alongside and sunk. 
As the evening approached, the ship appeared little more 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 113 

than suspended in water. There was no certainty that 
she would swim from one minute to another; and the 
love of life, which I believe never showed itself later in 
the approach to death, began now to level all distinctions. 
It was impossible, indeed, for any man to deceive him¬ 
self with a hope of being saved upon a raft in such a sea: 
besides that, the ship in sinking, it was probable, would 
carry every thing down with her in a vortex, to a cer¬ 
tain distance. 

It was near five o’clock, when, coming from my cabin, 
I observed a number of people looking very anxiously 
over the side; and looking over myself, I saw that seve¬ 
ral men had forced the pinnace, and that more were at¬ 
tempting to get in. I had immediate thoughts of securing 
this boat before she might be sunk by numbers. There 
appeared not more than a moment for consideration ; to 
remain and perish with the ship’s company, to whom I 
could not be of use any longer, or seize the opportunity, 
which seemed the only way of escaping, and leave the 
people, with whom I had been so well satisfied on a va¬ 
riety of occasions that I thought I could give my life to 
preserve them. This, indeed, was a painful conflict, 
such as, I believe, no man can describe, nor any have a 
just idea of who has not been in a similar situation. 

The love of life prevailed. I called to Mr. Rainy, the 
master, the only officer upon deck, desired him to follow 
me, and immediately descended into the boat at the after 
part of the chains, but not without great difficulty got 
the boat clear of the ship, twice the number that the boat 
would carry pushing to get in, and many jumping into 
the water. Mr. Baylis, a young gentleman fifteen years 
of age, leaped from the chains, after the boat had got off, 
and was taken in. The boat falling astern, became ex¬ 
posed to the sea, and we endeavored to pull her bow 
round to keep her to the break of the sea, and to pass to 
windward of the ship; but in the attempt she was near¬ 
ly filled, the sea ran too high, and the only probability 
of living was keeping her before the wind. 

It was then that I became sensible how little, if any, 
better our condition was than that of those who re- 
10 * 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


114 


mained in the ship; at best, it appeared to be only a 
prolongation of a miserable existence. We were, all to¬ 
gether, twelve in number, in a leaky boat, with one of 
the gunwales staved, in nearly the middle of the Western 
ocean, without a compass, without quadrant, without 
sail, without great coat or cloak, all very thinly clothed, 
in a gale of wind, with a great sea running ! It was 
now five o’clock in the evening, and in half an hour we 
lost sight of the ship. Before it was dark a blanket was 
discovered in the boat. This was immediately bent to 
one of the stretches, and under it, as a sail, we scudded 
all night, in expectation of being swallowed up by every 
wave, it being with great difficulty that we could some¬ 
times clear the boat of the water before the return of 
the next great sea; all of us half drowned, and sitting, 
except those who bailed, at the bottom of the boat; and, 
without having really perished, I am sure no people ever 
endured more. In the morning the weather grew mode¬ 
rate, the wind having shifted to the southward, as we 
discovered by the sun. Having survived the night, we 
began to recollect ourselves, and to think of our future 
preservation. 

When we quitted the ship the wind was at N. W. or 
N. N. W. Fayal had borne E. S. E. two hundred and 
fifty or two hundred and sixty leagues. Had the wind 
continued for five or six days, there was a probability 
that running before the sea we might have fallen in with 
some one of the Western Islands. The change of wind 
was death to these hopes; for, should it come to blow, 
we knew there would be no preserving life but by run¬ 
ning before the sea, which would carry us again to the 
northward, where we must soon afterwards perish. 

Upon examining what we had to subsist on, I found a 
bag of bread, a small ham, a single piece of pork, two 
quart bottles of water, and a few of French cordials. 
The wind continued to the southward for eight or nine 
days, and providentially never blew so strong but that 
we could keep the side of the boat to the sea : but we 
were always most miserably wet and cold. We kept a 
sort of reckoning, but the sun and stars being somewhat 


LOSS OP HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 115 

hidden from us, for twenty-four hours, we had no very 
correct idea of our navigation. We judged, that we had 
nearly an E. N. E. course since the first night’s run, 
which had carried us to the S. E. and expected to see 
the island of Corvo. In this, however, we were disap¬ 
pointed, and we feared that the southerly wind had 
driven us far to the northward. Our prayers were now 
for a northerly wind. Our condition began to be truly 
miserable, both from hunger and cold : for on the fifth 
day we had discovered that our bread was nearly all 
spoiled by salt-water, and it was necessary to go on an 
allowance. One biscuit divided into twelve morsels for 
breakfast, and the same for dinner; the neck of a bottle 
broken off, with the cork in, served for a glass, and this, 
filled with water, was the allowance for twenty-four 
hours for each man. This was done without any par¬ 
tiality or distinction ; but we must have perished ere 
this, had we not caught six quarts of rain water; and 
this we could not have been blessed with, had we 
not found in the boat a pair of sheets, which by acci¬ 
dent had been put there. These were spread when 
it rained, and when thoroughly wet, wrung into the 
kidd, with which we bailed the boat. With this short 
allowance, which was rather tantalizing in our comfort¬ 
less condition, we began to grow very feeble, and our 
clothes being continually wet, our bodies were, in many 
places, chafed into sores. 

On the I5th day it fell calm, and soon after a breeze 
of wind sprung up from the N. N. W. and blew to a 
gale, so that we ran before the sea at the rate of five or 
six miles an hour under our blanket, till we judged we 
were to the southward of Fayal, and to the westward 
sixty leagues : but the wind blowing strong we could not 
attempt to steer for it. Our wishes were now for the 
wind to shift to the westward. This was the fifteenth 
day we had been in the boat, and we had only one day’s 
bread, and one bottle of water remaining of a second 
supply of rain. Our sufferings were now as great as 
human strength could bear, but we were convinced that 
good spirits were a better support than great bodily 


116 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


strength: for on this day Thomas Matthews, quarter¬ 
master, the stoutest man in the boat, perished from hun¬ 
ger and cold: on the day before he had complained of 
want of strength in his throat, as he expressed it, to 
swallow his morsel, and in the night drank salt-water, 
grew delirious, and died without a groan. As it became 
next to a. certainty that we should all perish in the same 
manner in a day or two, it was somewhat comfortable 
to reflect, that dying of hunger was not so dreadful as 
our imaginations had represented. Others had com¬ 
plained of these symptoms in their throats; some had 
drank their own urine; and all but myself had drank 
salt-water. 

As yet despair and gloom had been successfully pro¬ 
hibited; and, as the evenings closed in, the men had 
been encouraged by turns to sing a song, or relate a story, 
instead of supper ; but this evening I found it impossible 
to raise either. As the night came on it fell calm, and 
about midnight a breeze of wind sprang up, we guessed 
from the westward by the swell, but there not being a 
star to be seen, we were afraid of running out of our 
way, and waited impatiently for the rising sun to be 
our compass. 

As soon as the dawn appeared, we found the wind to 
be exactly as we had wished, at W. S. W. and imme¬ 
diately spread our sail, running before the sea at the 
rate of four miles an hour. Our last breakfast had been 
served with the bread and water remaining, when John 
Gregory, quartermaster, declared with much confidence 
that he saw land in the S. E. We had so often seen 
fog-banks, which had the appearance of land, that I did 
not trust myself to believe it, and cautioned the people, 
(who were extravagantly elated,) that they might not 
feel the effects of disappointment; till at length one of 
them broke out into a most immoderate swearing fit of 
joy, which I could not restrain, and declared he had 
never seen land in his life if what he now saw was nof 
land. 

We immediately shaped our course for it, though on 
my part with very little faith. The wind freshened; the 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP CENTAUR. 117 

boat went through the water at the rate of five or six 
miles an hour, and in two hours’ time the land was 
plainly seen by every man in the boat, but at a very 
great distance, so that we did not reach it till ten at 
night. It must have been at least twenty leagues from 
us when first discovered; and I cannot help remarking, 
with much thankfulness, the providential favor shown 
to us in this instance. 

In every part of the horizon, except where the land 
was discovered, there was so thick a haze that we could 
not have seen any thing for more than three or four 
leagues. Fayal, by our reckoning, bore E. by N. which 
course we were steering, and in a few hours, had not the 
sky opened for our preservation, we should have increas¬ 
ed our distance from the land, got to the eastward, and 
of course missed all the island. As we approached the 
land our belief had strengthened that it was Fayal. The 
island of Pico, which might have revealed it to us, had 
the weather been perfectly clear, was at this time capped 
with clouds, and it was some time before we were quite 
satisfied, having traversed for two hours a great part of 
the island, where the steep and rocky shore refused us a 
landing. This circumstance was borne with much im¬ 
patience, for we had flattered ourselves that we should 
meet with fresh water at the first part of the land we 
might approach; and being disappointed, the thirst of 
some had increased anxiety almost to a state of madness; 
so that we were near making the attempt to land in 
some places where the boat must have been dashed to 
pieces by the surf. At length we discovered a fishing 
canoe, which conducted us into the road of Fayal about 
midnight; but where the regulation of the port did not 
permit us to land till examined by the health officers; 
however, I did not think much of sleeping this night in 
the boat, our pilot having brought us some refreshments 
of bread, wine, and water. In the morning we were 
visited by Mr. Graham, the English consul, whose hu¬ 
mane attention made very ample amends for the formality 
of the Portuguese. Indeed I can never sufficiently ex¬ 
press the sense I have of his kindness and humanity, 


118 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


both to myself and people; for, I believe, it was the 
whole of his employment for several days to contrive the 
best means of restoring us to health and strength. It is 
true, I believe there never were more pitiable objects. 
Some of the stoutest men belonging to the Centaur were 
obliged to be supported through the streets of Fayal. 
Mr. Rainy, the master, and myself, were, I think, in bet¬ 
ter health than the rest; but I could not walk without 
being supported; and for several days, with the best and 
most comfortable provisions of diet and lodging, we grew 
rather worse than better. 


f LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSY, 

On the Coast of Dutch Guiana , August 5, 1756. 

On the 1st of August, 1756, says captain Aubin, I set 
sail for Surinam, from Carlisle bay, in the island of Bar- 
badoes. My sloop, of about eighty tons burthen, was 
built entirely of cedar, and freighted by Messrs. Roscoe 
and Nyles, merchants of Bridgetown. The cargo con¬ 
sisted of provisions of every kind, and horses. The 
Dutch colony being in want of a supply of those animals, 
passed a law that no English vessel should be permitted 
to enter there, if horses did not constitute part of her 
cargo. The Dutch were so rigid in enforcing this con¬ 
dition, that if the horses chanced to die on their passage, 
the master of the vessel was obliged to preserve the ears 
and hoofs of the animals, and to swear upon entering 
the port of Surinam, that when he embarked they were 
alive, and destined for that colony. 

The coasts of Surinam, Berbice, Demarara, Oronoko, 
and all the adjacent parts, are low lands, and inundated 
by large rivers, which discharge themselves into the sea. 
The bottom all along this coast is composed of a kind 
of mud, or clay, in which the anchors sink to the depth 
of three or four fathoms, and upon which the keel some¬ 
times strikes without stopping the vessel. The sloop 



LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 


119 


being at anchor three leagues and a half from the shore 
in five fathoms water, the mouth of the Demarara river 
bearing S. S. W. and it being the rainy season, my crew 
drew up water from the sea for their use, which was 
just as sweet as good river water. The current occa¬ 
sioned by the trade winds, and the numerous rivers 
which fall into the sea, carried us at trie rate of four 
miles an hour towards the west and north-west. 

In the evening of the 4th of August, I was tacking 
about, between the latitude of ten and twelve degrees 
north, with a fresh breeze, which obliged me to reef my 
sails. At midnight, finding that the wind increased in 
proportion as the moon, then on the wane, rose above 
the horizon, and that my bark, which was deeply laden, 
labored excessively, I would not retire to rest till the 
weather became more moderate. I told my mate, whose 
name was Williams, to bring me a bottle of beer, and 
both sitting down, I upon a hen-coop, and Williams up¬ 
on the deck, we began to tell stories to pass the time, 
according to the custom of mariners of every country. 
The vessel suddenly turned with her broadside to wind¬ 
ward : I called to one of the seamen to put the helm a 
weather, but he replied it* had been so for some time. 
I directed my mate to see if the cords were not entangled: 
he informed me that they were not. At this moment the 
vessel swung round with her head to the sea, and plung¬ 
ed ; her head filled in such a manner that she could not 
rise above the surf, which broke over us to the height 
of the anchor stocks, and we were presently up to our 
necks in water; every thing in the cabin was washed 
away. Some of the crew, which consisted of nine men, 
were drowned in their hammocks, without a cry or groan. 
When the wave had passed, I took the hatchet that was 
hanging up near the fireplace, to cut away the shrouds 
to prevent the ship from upsetting, but in vain. She 
upset, and turned over again, with her masts and sails 
in the water; the horses rolled one over the other and 
were drowned, forming altogether a most melancholy 
spectacle. 

I had but one small boat, about twelve or thirteen feet 


120 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


long; she was fixed, with a cable coiled inside of her, 
between the pump and the side of the ship. Providen¬ 
tially for our preservation there was no occasion to lash 
her fast; but we at this time entertained no hope of see¬ 
ing her again, as the large cable within her, together with 
the weight of the horses, and their stalls entangled one 
among another, prevented her from rising to the surface 
of the water. 

In this dreadful situation, holding by the shrouds, and 
stripping off my clothes, I looked round me for some 
plank or empty box to preserve my life as long as it 
should please the Almighty, when I perceived my mate 
and two seamen hanging by a rope, and imploring God 
to receive their souls. I told them that the man who 
was not resigned to die when it pleased the Creator to 
call him out of the world was not fit to live. I advised 
them to undress as I had done, and to endeavor to seize 
the first object that could assist them in preserving their 
lives. Williams followed my advice, stripped himself 
quite naked, and betook himself to swimming, looking 
out for whatever he could find. A moment afterwards 
he cried out, “ Here is the boat, keel uppermost!” I im¬ 
mediately swam to him, and%und him holding the boat 
by the keel. We then set to work to turn her, but in 
vain; at length, however, Williams, who was the hea¬ 
viest and strongest of the two, contrived to set his feet 
against the gunwale of the boat, laying hold of the keel 
with his hands, and with a violent effort nearly succeed¬ 
ed in overturning her. I being to windward, pushed 
and lifted her up with my shoulders on the opposite side. 
At length, with the assistance of the surf, we turned her 
over, but she was full of water. I got into her, and en¬ 
deavored by the means of a rope belonging to the rig¬ 
ging to draw her to the mast of the vessel. In the in¬ 
tervals between the waves the mast always rose to the 
height of fifteen or twenty feet above the water. I passed 
the end of the rope fastened to the boat once round the 
head of the mast, keeping hold of the end; each time 
that the mast rose out of the water, it lifted up both the 
boat and me; I then let go the rope, and by this expe* 


LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSV. 


121 


dient the boat was three-fourths emptied; but having 
nothing to enable me to disengage her from the mast and 
shrouds, they fell down upon me, driving the boat and 
me again under water. 

After repeated attempts to empty her, in which I was 
cruelly wounded and bruised, 1 began to haul the boat, 
filled with water, towards the vessel, by the shrouds; 
but the bark had sunk by this time to such a depth, that 
only a small part of her stem was to be seen, upon 
which my mate and two other seamen were holding fast 
by a rope. 1 threw myself into the water, with the rope 
of the boat in the mouth, and swam towards them to 
give them the end to lay hold of, hoping, by our united 
strength, that we should be able to haul the boat over 
the stern of the vessel; we exerted our utmost efforts, 
and at this moment I nearly had my thigh broken by a 
shock of the boat, being between her and the ship. At 
length we succeeded in hauling her over the stern, but 
had the misfortune to break a hole in her bottom in this 
manoeuvre. As soon as my thigh was a little recovered 
from the blow, I jumped into her with one of the men, 
and stopped the leak with a piece of his coarse shirt. It 
was extremely fortunate for us that this man did not 
know how to swim; it will soon be seen what benefit 
we derived from his ignorance; had it not been for this 
we must all have perished. Being unable to swim, he 
had not stripped, and had thus preserved his coarse 
shirt, a knife that was in his pocket, and an enormous 
hat, in the Dutch fashion. The boat being fastened to 
the rigging, was no sooner cleared of the greatest part 
of the water than a dog of mine came to me, running 
along the gunwale; I took him in, thanking Providence 
for having thus sent provision for a time of necessity. 
A moment after the dog had entered, the rope broke with 
a jerk of the vessel, and I found myself drifting away. 
I called my mate and the other man, who swam to me: 
the former had fortunately found a small spare top-mast, 
which served us for a rudder. We assisted the two 
others to get into the boat, and soon lost sight of our ill- 
fated bark. 

11 


122 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


It was then four o’clock in the morning, as I judged 
by the dawn of day. which began to appear, so that 
about two hours had elapsed since we were obliged to 
abandon her. What prevented her from foundering 
sooner was my having taken on board about one hun¬ 
dred and fifty barrels of biscuit, as many or more casks 
of flour, and three hundred firkins of butter, all which 
substances float upon the water, and are soaked through 
but slowly and by degrees. As soon as we were clear 
of the wreck, we kept the boat 1 efore the wind as wel] 
as we could, and when it grew light I perceived several 
articles that had floated from the vessel. I perceived my 
box of clothes and linen, which had been carried out of 
the cabin by the Violence of the waves. I felt an emo¬ 
tion of joy. The box contained some bottles of orange 
and lime water, a few pounds of chocolate, sugar, &c. 
Reaching over the gunwale of our boat we laid hold of 
the box, and used every effort to open it on the water, 
for we could not think of getting it into the boat, being 
of a size and weight sufficient to sink her. In spite of 
all our endeavors we could not force open the lid; we 
were obliged to leave it behind, with all the good things 
it contained, and to increase our distress we had by this 
effort almost filled our boat with water, and had more 
than once nearly sunk her. 

We, however, had the good fortune to pick up thir¬ 
teen onions; we saw many more, but were unable to 
reach them. These thirteen onions and my dog, with¬ 
out a single drop of fresh water, or any liquor whatever, 
were all that we had to subsist upon. We were, ac¬ 
cording to my computation, above fifty leagues from land, 
having neither mast, sails, nor oars, to directus, nor any 
kind of articles besides the knife of the sailor who could 
not swim, his shirt, a piece of which we had already 
used to stop the leak in our boat, and his wide trousers. 
We this day cut the remainder of his shirt into strips, 
which we twisted for rigging, and then fell to work al¬ 
ternately to loosen the planks with which the boat was 
lined, cutting, by dint of time and patience, all round the 
heads of the nails that fastened them. Of these planks 


LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 


123 


we made a kind of mast, which we tied to the foremast 
bench ; a piece of board was substituted for a yard, to 
which we fastened the two parts of the trousers, which 
served for sails, and assisted us in keeping the boat be¬ 
fore the wind, steering with the top-mast as mentioned 
before. 

As the pieces of plank which we had detached from 
the inside of the boat were too short, and were not suf¬ 
ficient to go quite round the edge, when the sea ran very 
high, we were obliged, in order to prevent the waves 
from entering the boat, to lie down several times along 
the gunwale on each side, with our backs to the water, 
and thus with our bodies to repel the surf, while the 
other, with the Dutch hat, was incessantly employed in 
bailing out the water; besides which the boat continued 
to make water at the leak, which we were unable en¬ 
tirely to stop. 

It was in this melancholy situation, and stark naked, 
that we kept the boat before the wind as well as we 
could. The night of the first day after our shipwreck 
arrived before we had well completed our sail; it grew 
dark, and we contrived to keep our boat running before 
the wind, at the rate of about a league an hour. The 
second day was more calm; we each eat an onion, at 
different times, and began to feel thirst. In the night 
of the second day the wind became violent and variable, 
and sometimes blowing from the north, which caused me 
great uneasiness, being obliged to steer south, in order 
to keep the boat before the wind, whereas we could only 
hope to be saved by proceeding from east to west. 

The third day we began to suffer exceedingly, not only 
from hunger and thirst, but likewise from the heat of 
the sun, which scorched us in such a manner, that from 
the neck to the feet our skin was as red and as full of 
blisters as if we had been burned by a fire. I then seiz¬ 
ed my dog and plunged the knife in his throat. I can¬ 
not even now refrain from weeping at the thought of it; 
but at the moment I felt not the least compassion for 
him. We caught his blood in the hat, receiving in our 
hands and drinking what ran over: we afterwards drank 


124 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


in turn out of the hat, and felt ourselves refreshed. The 
fourth day the wind was extremely violent, and the sea 
ran very high, so that we were more than once on the 
point of perishing ; it was on this day in particular that 
we were obliged to make a rampart of our bodies in or¬ 
der to repel the waves. About noon a ray of hope dawn¬ 
ed upon us, but soon vanished. 

We perceived a sloop, commanded by captain Sou¬ 
they, which, like my vessel, belonged to the island of 
Barbadoes, and was bound to Demarara; we could see 
the crew walking upon the deck, and shouted to them, 
but were never seen nor heard. Being obliged, by the 
violence of the gale, to keep our boat before the wind, 
for fear of foundering, we had passed her a great dis¬ 
tance before she crossed us; she steered direct south, and 
we bearing away to the west. Captain Southey was 
one of my particular friends. This disappointment so 
discouraged my two seamen that they refused to endea¬ 
vor any longer to save their lives. In spite of all I could 
say, one of them would do nothing, not even bail out 
the water which gained upon us; I had recourse to en¬ 
treaties ; fell at his knees, but he remained unmoved. 
My mate and I, at length, prevailed upon him, by threat¬ 
ening to kill him instantly with the top-mast, which we 
used to steer by, and to kill ourselves afterwards, to put 
a period to our misery. This menace made some im¬ 
pression on him, and he resumed his employment of bail¬ 
ing as before. 

On this day I set the others the example of eating a 
piece of the dog with some onions; it was with difficulty 
that I swallowed a few mouthfuls; but in an hour I felt 
that this morsel of food had given me vigor. My mate, 
who was of a much stronger constitution, eat more, 
which gave me much pleasure; one of the two men 
likewise tasted it, but the other, whose name was Com¬ 
ings, either would not or could not swallow a morsel. 

The fifth day was more calm, and the sea much 
smoother. At daybreak we perceived an enormous 
shark, as large as our boat, which followed us several 
hours, as a prey that was destined for him. We also 


LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 


125 


found in our boat a flying-fish, which had dropped there 
during the night; we divided it into four parts, which 
we chewed to moisten our mouths. It was on this day 
that, when pressed with hunger and despair, my mate, 
Williams, had the generosity to exhort us to cut off a 
piece of his thigh to refresh ourselves with the blood, 
and to support life. In the night we had several show¬ 
ers, with some wind. We tried to get some rain water 
by wringing the trousers which served us for a sail, but 
when we caught it in our mouths it proved to be as salt 
as that of the sea; the trousers having been so often 
soaked with sea-water, that they, as well as the hat, 
were quite impregnated with salt. Thus we had no 
other resource but to open our mouths and catch the 
drops of rain upon our tongues, in order to cool them : 
after the shower was over we again fastened the trou¬ 
sers to the mast. 

On the sixth day the two seamen, notwithstanding all 
my remonstrances, drank sea-water, which purged them 
so excessively that they fell into a kind of delirium, and 
were of no more service to Williams and me. Both he 
and I kept a nail in our mouths, and often sprinkled our 
heads with water to cool them. I perceived myself the 
better for these ablutions, and that my head was more 
easy. We tried several times to eat of the dog’s flesh, 
with a morsel of onion ; but I thought myself fortunate 
if I could get down three or four mouthfuls. My mate 
always eat rather more than I could. 

The seventh day was fine, with a moderate breeze, 
and the sea perfectly calm. About noon the two men 
who had drank sea-water grew so weak that they be¬ 
gan to talk wildly, like people who are light-headed, not 
knowing any longer whether they were at. sea or on 
shore. My mate and I were so weak too that we could 
scarcely stand on our legs, or steer the boat in our turns, 
or bail the water from the boat, which made a great 
deal at the leak. 

In the morning of the eighth day, John Comings died, 
and three hours afterwards George Simpson likewise ex¬ 
pired. The same evenihg, at sunset, we had the inex- 
11 # 


126 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


pressible satisfaction of discovering the high lands oil 
the west point of the island of Tobago. Hope gave us 
strength. We kept the head of the boat towards the 
land all night, with a light breeze, and a current which 
was in our favor. Williams and I were that night in an 
extraordinary situation, our two comrades lymg dead 
before us, with the land in sight, having very little wind 
to approach it, and being assisted only by the current, 
which drove strongly to the westward. In the morning 
we were not, according to my computation, more than 
five or six leagues from the land. That happy day was 
the last of our sufferings at sea. We kept steering the 
boat the whole day towards the shore, though we were 
no longer able to stand. In the evening the wind lulled, 
and it fell calm; but about two o’clock in the morning 
the current cast us on the beach of the island of Toba¬ 
go, at the foot of a high shore, between little Tobago 
and Man-of-War bay, which is the easternmost part of 
the island. The boat soon bilged with the shock; my 
unfortunate companion and I crawled to the shore, leav¬ 
ing the bodies of our two comrades in the boat, and the 
remainder of the dog, which was quite putrid. 

We clambered, as well as we could, on all fours, along 
the high coast, which rose almost perpendicularly to the 
height of three or four hundred feet. A great quantity 
of leaves had dropped down to the place where we were, 
from the numerous trees over our heads; these we col¬ 
lected, and lay down upon thefn to wait for daylight. 
When it began to dawn we sought about for water, and 
found some in the holes of the rocks, but it was brack¬ 
ish, and not fit to drink. We perceived on the rocks 
around us several kinds of shell-fish, some of which we 
broke open with a stone, and chewed them to moisten 
our mouths. 

Between eight and nine o’clock we were perceived by 
a young Caraib, who was sometimes walking and at 
others swimming towards the boat. As soon as he had 
reached it he called his companions with loud shouts, 
making signs of the greatest compassion. His comrades 
instantly followed him, and swam towards us, having 
perceived us almost at the same time. 


LOSS OP THE SLOOP BETSY. 


127 


The oldest, who was about sixty, approached us, with 
the two youngest, whom we afterwards found to be his 
son and son-in-law. At the sight of us the tears flowed 
from their eyes: I endeavored by words and signs to 
make them comprehend that we had been nine days at 
sea, in want of every thing. They understood a few 
French words, and signified that they would fetch a boat 
to convey us to their hut. The old man took a hand¬ 
kerchief from his head and tied it round mine, and one of 
the young Caraibs gave Williams his straw hat; the 
other swam round the projecting rock and brought us a 
calabash of fresh water, some cakes of cassava, and a 
piece of broiled fish, but we could not eat. The two 
others took the two corpses out of the boat, and laid 
them upon the rock, after which all three of them hauled 
the boat out of the water. They then left us, with 
marks of the utmost compassion, and went to fetch their 
canoe. 

About noon they returned in their canoe, to the num¬ 
ber of six, and brought with them, in an earthen pot, 
some soup which we thought delicious. We took a lit¬ 
tle, but my stomach was so weak that I immediately 
cast it up again. Williams did not vomit at all. In 
less than two hours we arrived at Man-of-War bay, 
where the huts of the Caraibs are situated. They had 
only one hammock, in which they laid me, and the wo¬ 
man made us a very agreeable mess of herbs and broth 
of quatracas and pigeons. They bathed my wounds, 
which were full of worms, with a decoction of tobacco 
and other plants. FiVery morning the man lifted me out 
of the hammock, and carried me in his arms beneath a 
lemon tree, where he covered me with plantain leaves to 
screen me from the sun. There they anointed our bo¬ 
dies with a kind of oil to cure the blisters raised by the 
sun. Our compassionate hosts even had the generosity 
to give each of us a shirt and a pair of trousers, which 
they had procured from the ships that came from time to 
time to irade with them for turtles and tortoise shell. 

After they had cleansed my wounds of the vermin, 
they kept me with my legs suspended in the air, and 


128 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


anointed them morning and evening with an oil extract¬ 
ed from the tail of a small crab, resembling what the 
English call the soldier-crab, because its shell is red. 
They take a certain quantity of these crabs, bruise the 
ends of their tails, and put them to digest in a large shell 
upon the fire. It was with this ointment that they 
healed my wounds, covering them with nothing but 
plantain leaves. 

Thanks to the nourishing food procured us by the Ca- 
raibs, and their humane attention, I was able, in about 
three weeks, to support myself upon crutches, like a 
person recovering from a severe illness. The natives 
flocked from all parts of the island to see us, and never 
came empty handed; sometimes bringing eggs, and at 
others fowls, which were given with pleasure, and ac¬ 
cepted with gratitude. We even had visiters from the 
island of Trinidad. I cut my name with a knife upon 
several boards, and gave them to different Caraibs, to 
show them to any ships which chance might conduct to 
the coast. We almost despaired of seeing any arrive, 
when a sloop from Oronoko, laden with mules and 
bound to St. Pierre, in the island of Martinique, touched 
at the sandy point on the west side of Tobago. The 
Indians showed the crew a plank upon which my name 
was carved, and acquainted them with our situation. 
Upon the arrival of this vessel at St. Pierre, those on 
board related the circumstance. Several merchants of 
my acquaintance, who traded under Dutch colors, hap¬ 
pened to be there: they transmitted the information to 
my owners, Messrs. Roscoe and .Nyles, who instantly 
despatched a small vessel in quest of us. After living 
about nine weeks with this benevolent and charitable 
tribe of savages, I embarked and left them, when my 
regret was equal to the joy and surprise I had experi¬ 
enced at meeting with them. 

When we were ready to depart they furnished us with 
an abundant supply of bananas, figs, yams, fowls, fish, 
and fruits; particularly oranges and lemons. I had no¬ 
thing to give them as an acknowledgment of their gene¬ 
rous treatment but my boat, which they had repaired, 


LOSS OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 


129 


and used for occasionally visiting their nests of turtles: 
being larger than their canoes, it was much more fit for 
that purpose. Of this I made them a present, and would 
have given them my blood. My friend, captain Young, 
assisted me to remunerate my benefactors. He gave me 
all the rum he had with him, being about seven or eight 
bottles, which I likewise presented to them. He also 
gave them several shirts and trousers, some knives, fish¬ 
hooks, sail-cloth for the boat, with needles and ropes. 

At length, after two days spent in preparations for our 
departure, we were obliged to separate. They came 
down to the beach to the number of about thirty, men, 
women and children, and all appeared to feel the sincer- 
est sorrow, especially the old man, who had acted like a 
father to me. When the vessel left the bay, the tears 
flowed from our eyes, which still continued fixed upon 
them. They remained standing in a line upon the shore 
till they lost sight of us. As we set sail about nine 
o’clock in the morning, steering north-east, and as Man- 
of-War bay is situated at the north-east point of the 
island, we were a long time in sight of each «other. I 
still recollect the moment when they disappeared from 
my sight, and the profound regret which filled my heart. 
I feared th^t I should never again be so happy as I had 
been among them. I loved them, and will continue to 
love my dear Caraibs as long as I live; I would shed 
my blood for the first of those benevolent savages that 
might stand in need of my assistance, if chance should 
ever bring one of them to Europe, or my destiny should 
again conduct me to their island. 

In three days we arrived at Barbadoes. I continued 
to have a violent oppression on my breast, which checked 
respiration, and was not yet able to go without crutches. 
We received from the whole island marks of the most 
tender interest, and the most generous compassion; the 
benevolence of the inhabitants was unbounded. The 
celebrated Dr. Hilery, the author of a treatise on the 
diseases peculiar to that isla-nd, came to see me, together 
with Dr. Lilihorn. They prescribed various remedies, 
but without effect; Both Williams and mysolf were 


130 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


unable to speak without the greatest difficulty. Wil¬ 
liams remained at Barbadoes, but I, being more affected, 
and less robust, was advised to return to Europe. In 
compliance with their advice I went to London, where I 
was attended by doctors Reeves, Akenside, Schomberg, 
and the most celebrated physicians of that metropolis, 
who gave me all the assistance within the power of their 
art, from which I received scarcely any relief. At 
length, after I had been about a week in London, Dr. 
Alexander Russell, on his return from Bath, heard my 
case mentioned. He came to see me, and with his ac¬ 
customed humanity promised to undertake my cure, 
without any fee; but he candidly acknowledged that it 
would be both tedious and expensive. I replied that the 
generosity of the inhabitants of Barbadoes had rendered 
me easy on that head, entreating him to prescribe for 
me, and thanking him for his obliging offers. 

As he had practised for a long time at Aleppo, he 
had there seen great numbers afflicted with the same 
malady as myself, produced by long thirst in traversing 
the deserts of Africa. He ordered me to leave town to 
enjoy a more wholesome air. I took a lodging at Ho¬ 
me rton, near Hackney ; there he ordered me to be bathed 
every morning, confining me to asses’ milk as my only 
food, excepting a few new-laid eggs, together with mo¬ 
derate exercise, and a ride on horseback every day. 
After about a month of this regimen he ordered a goat to 
be brought every morning to my bedside; about five 
o’clock I drank a glass of her milk, quite hot, and slept 
upon it. He then allowed me to take some light chicken 
broth, with a morsel of the wing. By means of this 
diet my malady was in a great degree removed in the 
space of about five months, and I was in a state to re¬ 
sume any occupation I pleased ; but my constitution has 
ever since been extremely delicate, and my stomach in 
particular very weak. 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 

In addition to the many dreadful shipwrecks already 
narrated, the following, which is a circumstantial account 
given by T. Purnell, chief mate of the brig Tyrrel, Ar¬ 
thur Cochlan, commander, and the only person among 
the whole crew who had the good fortune to escape, 
claims our particular attention. 

On Saturday, June 28th, 1759, they sailed from New 
York to Sandy Hook, and came to an anchor, waiting 
for the captain’s coming down with a new boat, and 
some other articles. Accordingly he came on board 
early the succeeding morning, and the boat was cleared, 
hoisted in, stowed and lashed. At eight o’clock A. M. 
they weighed anchor, sailed out of Sandy Hook, and 
the same day, at noon, took their departure from the 
highland Neversink, and proceeded on their passage to 
Antigua. As soon as they made sail, the captain or¬ 
dered the boat to be cast loose, in order that she might 
be painted, with the oars, rudder, and tiller, which job 
he (the captain) undertook to do himself. 

At four P. M. they found the vessel made a little more 
water than usual; but as it did not cause much addi¬ 
tional labor at the pump, nothing was thought of it. At 
eight, the leak did not seem to increase. At twelve, it 
began to blow hard in squalls, which caused the vessel 
to lie down very much, whereby it was apprehended 
she wanted more ballast. Thereupon the captain came 
on deck, being the starboard watch; and close-reefed 
both top-sails. 

At four A. M. the weather moderated—let out both 
reefs. At eight it became still more moderate, and they 
made more sail, and set the top-gallant sails; the wea¬ 
ther was still thick and hazy. There was no further 
observation taken at present, except that the vessel made 


132 


REMARKABLE shipwrecks. 


more water. The captain was now chiefly employed in 
painting the boat, oars, rudder, and tiller. 

On Monday, June 30th, at four P. M., the wind was 
at E. N. E., freshened very much, and blew so very hard 
as occasioned the brig to lie along in such a manner as 
caused general alarm. The captain was now earnestly 
entreated to put for New York, or steer for the capes of 
Virginia. At eight, took in top-gallant sail, and close 
reefed both top-sails, still making more weather. After¬ 
wards the weather became still more moderate and fair, 
and they made more sail. 

July 1st, at four A. M., it began to blow in squalls 
very hard; took in one reef in each top-sail, and conti¬ 
nued so until eight A. M., the weather being still thick 
and hazy.—No observation. 

The next day she made still more water, but as every 
watch pumped it out, this was little regarded. At four 
P. M. took a second reef in each top-sail, close reefed 
both, and down top-gallant yard; the gale still in¬ 
creasing. 

At four A. M. the wind got round to north, and there 
was no likelihood of its abating. At eight, the captain, 
well satisfied that she was very crank and ought to have 
had more ballast, agreed to make for Bacon Island road, 
in North Carolina; and in the very act of wearing her, a 
sudden gust of wind laid her down on her beam ends, 
and she never rose again ! At this time Mr. Purnell 
was lying in the cabin, with his clothes on, not having 
pulled them off since they left land. Having been rolled 
out of his bed, (on his chest,) with great difficulty he 
reached the round-house door. The first salutation he 
met with was from the step-ladder that went from the 
quarter-deck to the poop, which knocked him against 
the companion ; (a lucky circumstance for those below, 
as, by laying the ladder against the companion, it served 
both him and the rest of the people who were in the 
steerage as a conveyance to windward;) having trans¬ 
ported the two after guns forward to bring her more by 
the head, in order to make her hold a better wind: thus 
they got through the aftermost gun-port on the quarter- 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 


133 


deck, and being all on her broadside, every movable 
rolled to leeward; and as the vessel overset, so did the 
boat, and turned bottom upwards. Her lashings being 
cast loose by order of the captain, and having no other 
prospect of saving their lives but by the boat, Purnell, 
with two others, and the cabin boy, who were excellent 
swimmers, plunged into the water, and with great diffi¬ 
culty righted her, when she was brimful, and washing 
with the water’s edge. They then made fast the end of 
the main-sheet to the ring in her stern-post, and those 
who were in the fore-chains sent down the end of the 
boom-tackle, to which they made fast the boat’s painter, 
and by which they lifted her a little out of the water, so 
that she swam about two or three inches free, but almost 
full. They then put the cabin boy into her, and gave 
him a bucket that happened to float by, and he bailed 
away as quick as he could, and soon after another person 
got in with another bucket, and in a short time got all 
the water out of her. They then put two long oars that 
were stowed in the larboard quarter of the Tyrrel into 
the boat, and pulled or rowed right to windward; for, as 
the wreck drifted, she made a dreadful appearance in 
the water; and Mr. Purnell and two of the people put 
off from the wreck, in search of the oars, rudder and 
tiller. After a long while they succeeded in picking 
them all up, one after another. They then returned to 
their wretched companions, who were all overjoyed to 
see them, having given them up for lost. 

By this time night drew on very fast. While they 
were rowing in the boat, some small quantity of white 
biscuit (Mr. Purnell supposed about half a peck) floated 
in a small cask out of the round-house; but before it 
came to hand, it was so soaked with salt water that it 
was almost in a fluid state; and about double the quan¬ 
tity of common ship-biscuit likewise floated, which was 
in like manner soaked. This was all the provisions 
that they had; not a drop of fresh water could they get; 
neither could the carpenter get at any of the tools to 
scuttle her sides, for, could this have been accomplished, 
they might have saved plenty of provisions and water. 


134 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


By this time it was almost dark. Having got one 
compass, it was determined to quit the wreck, and take 
their chance in the boat, which was nineteen feet six 
inches long, and six feet four inches broad: Mr. Purnell 
supposes it was now about nine o’clock: it was very 
dark. They had run three hundred and sixty miles by 
their dead reckoning, on a S. E. by E. course. The 
number in the boat was seventeen in all; the boat was 
very deep, and little hopes were entertained of either 
seeing land or surviving long. The wind got round to 
westward, which was the course they wanted to steer; 
but it began to blow and rain so very hard, that they 
were obliged to keep the boat before the wind and sea 
in order to preserve her above water. Soon after they 
had put off from the wreck the boat shipped two heavy 
seas, one after another, so that they were obliged to keep 
her before the wind and sea; for had she shipped another 
sea, she certainly would have swamped with them. 

By sunrise the next morning, July 3d, they judged 
that they had been running E. S. E., which was contra¬ 
ry to their wishes. The wind dying away, the weather 
became very moderate. The compass which they had 
saved proved of no utility, one of the people having trod 
upon and broken it; it was accordingly thrown over¬ 
board. They now proposed to make a sail of frocks and 
trousers, but they had got neither needles nor sewing- 
twine : one of the people however had a needle in his 
knife, and another several fishing lines in his pockets, 
which were unlaid by some, and others were employed 
in ripping the frocks and trousers. By sunset they had 
provided a tolerable lugsail: having split one of the 
boat’s thwarts,(which was of yellow deal,) with a very 
large knife which one of the crew had in his pocket, 
they made a yard and lashed it together by the strands 
of the fore-top-gallant halliards, that were thrown into 
the boat promiscuously. They also made a mast of one 
of the long oars, and set their sails with sheets and 
tacks made out of the strands of the top-gallant halliards. 
Their only guide was the north star. They had a tole¬ 
rably good breeze all night; and the whole of the next 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 


135 


day, July 4th, the weather continued very moderate, and 
the people were in as good spirits as their dreadful situa¬ 
tion would permit. 

July 5th, the wind and weather continued much the 
same, and they knew by the north star that they were 
standing in for land. The next day Mr. Purnell observed 
some of the men drinking salt water, and seeming rather 
fatigued. At this time they imagined the wind had got 
round to the southward, and they steered, as they 
thought, by the north star, to the north-west quarter; 
but on the 7th, the wind had got back to the northward 
and blew very fresh. They got their oars out the great¬ 
est part of the night; and the next day, the wind still 
dying away, the people labored alternately at the oars, 
without distinction. About noon the wind sprung up so 
that they lay on their oars, and, as they thought, steered 
about N. N. W., and continued so until about eight or 
nine o’clock in the morning of July 9th, when they all 
thought they were upon soundings, by the coldness of 
the water. They were in general in very good spirits. 
The weather continued still thick and hazy, and by the 
north star they found that they had be£n steering about 
north by west. 

July 10.—The people had drank so much salt water, 
that it came from them as clear as it was before they drank 
it; and Mr. Purnell perceived that the second mate had 
lost a considerable share of his strength and spirits; and 
also, at noon, that the carpenter was delirious, his mala¬ 
dy increasing every hour; about dusk he had almost 
overset the boat, by attempting to throw himself over¬ 
board, and otherwise behaving quite violently. As his 
strength, however, failed him, he became more manage¬ 
able, and they got him to lie down in the middle of the 
boat, among some of the people. Mr. Purnell drank 
once a little salt water, but could not relish it; he pre¬ 
ferred his own urine, which he drank occasionally as he 
made it. Soon after sunset the second mate lost his 
speech. Mr. Purnell desired him to lean his head on 
him: he died, without a groan or struggle, on the 11th 
of July, being the ninth day they were in the boat. In a 


136 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


few minutes after, the carpenter expired, almost in a 
similar manner. These melancholy scenes rendered the 
situation of the survivors more dreadful; it is impossible 
to describe their feelings. Despair became general; eve¬ 
ry man imagined his own dissolution was near. They 
all new went to prayers; some in the Welch language, 
some in Irish, and others in English; then, after a little 
deliberation, they stripped the two dead men and hove 
them overboard. 

The weather being now very mild, and almost calm, 
they turned to, cleaned the boat, and resolved to make 
their sail larger out of the frocks and trousers of the two 
deceased men. Purnell got the captain to lie down with 
the rest of the people, the boatswain and one man ex¬ 
cepted, who assisted him in making the sail larger, which 
they had completed by six or seven o’clock in the after¬ 
noon, having made a shroud out of the boat’s painter, 
which served as a shifting back-stay. Purnell also fixed 
his red flannel waistcoat at the mast head, as a signal 
the most likely to be seen. 

Soon after this some of them observed a sloop at a 
great distance, Coming, as they thought, from the land. 
This roused every man’s spirits : they got out their oars, 
at which they labored alternately, exerting all their re¬ 
maining strength to come up with her; but night doming 
on, and the sloop getting a fresh breeze of wind, they 
lost sight of her, which occasioned a general consterna¬ 
tion ; however, the appearance of the north star, which 
they kept on their starboard bow, gave them hopes that 
they stood in for land. This night one William Wathing 
died; he was sixty-four years of age, and had been to 
sea fifty years: quite worn out with fatigue and hunger, 
he earnestly prayed, to the iast moment, for a drop of 
water to cool his tongue. Early the next morning Hugh 
Williams also died, and in the course of the day, another 
of the crew; entirely exhausted, they both expired with¬ 
out a groan. 

Early in the morning of July 13th, it began to blow 
very fresh, and increased so much that they were obliged 
to furl their sail, and keep their boat before the wind and 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 


137 


sea, which drove them off soundings. In the evening 
their gunner died. The weather now becoming mode¬ 
rate, and the wind in the south-west quarter, they made 
sail, not one of them being able to row or pull an oar at 
any rate; they ran all this night with a fine breeze. 

The next morning, July 14th, two more of the crew 
died, and in the evening they also lost the same number. 
They found they were on soundings again, and conclud¬ 
ed the wind had got round to the north-west quarter. 
They stood in for the land all this night, and early on 
July 15th, two others died: the deceased were thrown 
overboard as soon as their breath had departed. The 
weather was now thick and hazy, and they were still 
certain that they were on soundings. 

The cabin boy was seldom required to do any thing, 
and as his intellects at this time were very good, and his 
understanding clear, it was the opinion of Mr. Purnell 
that he would survive them all, but he prudently kept 
his thoughts to himself. The captain seemed likewise 
tolerably well, and to have kept up his spirits. On ac¬ 
count of the haziness of the weather, they could not so 
well know how they steered in the day-time, as at night; 
for, whenever the north star appeared, they endeavored 
to keep it on their starboard bow, by which means they 
were certain of making the land some time or other. In 
the evening two more of the crew died; also, before sun¬ 
rise, one Thomas Philpot, an old, experienced seaman, 
and very strong; he departed rather convulsed: having 
latterly lost the power of articulation, his meaning could 
not be comprehended. He was a native of Belfast, Ire¬ 
land, and had no family. The survivors found it very 
difficult to heave his body overboard, as he was a very 
corpulent man. 

About six or seven the next morning, July 16th, they 
stood in for land, according to the best of their judg¬ 
ment ; the weather still thick and hazy. Purnell now 
prevailed upon the captain and boatswain of the boat to 
lie down in the fore part of the boat, to bring her more 
by the head, in order to make her hold a better wind. 
In the evening the cabin boy, who lately appeared so 
12 * 


138 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


well, breathed his last, leaving behind the captain, the 
boatswain, and Mr. Purnell. 

The next morning, July 17th, Purnell asked his two 
companions if they thought they could eat any of the 
boy’s flesh; and having expressed an inclination to try, 
and the boy being quite cold, he cut the inside of his 
thigh, a little above his knee, and gave a piece to the 
captain and boatswain, reserving a small piece for him¬ 
self ; but so weak were their stomachs that none of them 
could swallow a morsel of it; the body was therefore 
thrown overboard. 

Early in the morning of the 18th, Mr. Purnell found 
both of his companions dead and cold ! Thus destitute, 
he began to think of his own dissolution ; though feeble, 
his understanding was still clear, and his spirits as good 
as his forlorn situation would possibly admit. By the 
color and coldness of the water, he knew he was not far 
from land, and still maintained hopes of making it. 
The weather continued very foggy. He lay to all this 
night, which was very dark, with the boat’s head to the 
northward. 

In the morning of the 19th it began to rain; it cleared 
up in the afternoon, and the wind died away ; still Pur¬ 
nell was convinced he was on soundings. 

On the 20th, in the afternoon, he thought he saw land, 
and stood in for it; but night coming on, and it being 
now very dark, he lay to, fearing he might get on some 
rocks or shoals. 

July 21st, the weather was very fine all the morning, 
but in the afternoon it became thick and hazy. Pur¬ 
nell’s spirits still remained good, but his strength was 
almost exhausted : he still drank his own water occa¬ 
sionally. 

On the 22d, he saw some barnacles on the boat’s rud¬ 
der, very similar to the spawn of an oyster, which filled 
him with great hopes of being near to land. He un¬ 
shipped the rudder, and scraping them off with his 
knife, found they were of a salt fishy substance, and 
eat them; he was now so weak, and the boat having a 
great motion, that he found it a difficult task to ship the 
rudder. 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 


139 


At sunrise, July 23d, he became so sure that he saw 
land, that his spirits were considerably raised. In the 
middle of this day he got up, leaned his back against the 
mast, and received succor from the sun, having previ¬ 
ously contrived to steer the boat in this position. The 
next day he saw, at a very great distance, some kind of 
a sail, which he judged was coming from the land, which 
he soon lost sight of. In the middle of the day he got 
up, and received warmth from the sun as before. He 
stood on all night for the land. 

Very early in the morning of the 25th, after drinking 
his morning draught, to his inexpressible joy, he saw, 
while the sun was rising, a sail, and when the sun was 
up, found she was a two-mast vessel. He was, however, 
considerably perplexed, not knowing what to do, as she 
was a great distance astern and to the leeward. In or¬ 
der to watch her motion better, he tacked about. Soon 
after this he perceived she was standing on her starboard 
tack, which was the same he had been standing on for 
many hours. lie saw she approached him very fast, 
and he lay to, for some time, till he believed she was 
within two miles of the boat, but still to leeward ; there¬ 
fore he thought it best to steer larger, when he found she 
was a topsail schooner, nearing him very fast. He con¬ 
tinued to edge down towards her, until he had brought 
her about two points under his lee-bow, having it in his 
power to spring his luff, or bear away. By this time she 
was within half a mile, and he saw some of the people 
standing forward on her deck, and waving for him to 
come under their lee-bow. At the distance of about 
two hundred yards, they hove the schooner up in the 
wind, and kept her so until Purnell got alongside, when 
they threw him a rope, still keeping the schooner in the 
wind. They now interrogated him very closely; by the 
manner the boat and oars were painted, they imagined 
she belonged to a man-of-war, and that they had run 
away with her from s6me of his majesty’s ships at Hali¬ 
fax, consequently that they would be liable to some pu¬ 
nishment if they took him up: they also thought, as the 
captain and boatswain were lying dead in the boat, they 


140 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


might expose themselves to some contagious disorder. 
Thus they kept Purnell in suspense for some time. They 
told him they had made the land that morning from the 
mast-head, and that they were running along shore for 
Marblehead, to which place they belonged, and where 
they expected to be the next morning. At last they told 
him he might come on board; which, as he said, he 
could not do without assistance; when the captain ordered 
two of his men to help him. They conducted him aft 
on the quarter-deck, where they left him resting against 
the companion. They were now for casting the boat 
adrift, when Purnell told them she was not above a 
month old, built at New York, and if they would hoist 
her in, it would pay them well for their trouble. To 
this they agreed, and having thrown the two corpses 
overboard, and taken out the clothes that were left by 
the deceased, they hoisted her in and made sail. 

Being now on board, Purnell asked for a little water : 
captain Castleman (for that was his name) ordered one 
of his sons (having two on board) to fetch him some; 
when he came with the water, his father looked to see 
how much lie was bringing him, and thinking it too 
much, threw a part of it away, and desired him to give 
the remainder, which he drank, being the first fresh wa¬ 
ter he had tasted for twenty-three days. As he leaned 
all this time against the companion, he became very cold, 
and begged to go below : the captain ordered two men to 
help him down to the cabin, where they left him sitting 
on the cabin deck, leaning upon the lockers, all hands 
being now engaged in hoisting in and securing the boat. 
This done, all hands went down to breakfast, except the 
man at the helm. They made some soup for Purnell, 
which he thought very good, but at that time could eat 
but very little, and in consequence of his late draughts, 
he had broke out in many parts of his body, so that he 
was in great pain whenever he stirred. They made a 
bed for him out of an old sail, and behaved very atten¬ 
tive. While they were at breakfast a squall of wind 
came on, which called them all upon deck ; during their 
absence, Purnell took up a stone bottle, and without 


LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 


141 


smelling or tasting it, but thinking it was rum, took a 
hearty draught of it, and found it to be sweet oil; hav¬ 
ing placed it where he found it, he lay down-. 

They still ran along shore with the land in sight, and 
were in great hopes of getting into port that night, but 
the wind dying away, they did not get in till nine o’clock 
the next night. All this time Purnell remained like a 
child; some one or other was always with him, to give 
him whatever he wished to eat or drink. 

As soon as they came to anchor, captain Castleman 
went on shore, and returned on board the next morning, 
with the owner, John Pickett, Esq. Soon after, they got 
Purnell into a boat and carried him on shore; buthe 
was still so very feeble, that he was obliged to be sup¬ 
ported by two men. Mr. Pickett took a very genteel 
lodging for him, and hired a nurse to attend him; he 
was immediately put to bed, and afterwards provided 
with a change of clothes. In the course of the day he 
was visited by every doctor in the town, who all gave 
him hopes of recovering; but told him it would be some 
time; for the stronger the constitution, (said they,) the 
longer it takes to recover its lost strength. Though 
treated with the utmost tenderness and humanity, it was 
three weeks before he was able to come down stairs. He 
stayed in Marblehead two months, during which he 
lived very comfortably, and gradually recovered his 
strength. The brig’s boat and oars were sold for ninety- 
five dollars, which paid all his expenses, and procured 
him a passage to Boston. The nails of his fingers and 
toes withered away almost to nothing, and did not begin 
to grow for many months after. 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN 
THE PRINCE, BY FIRE. 

By one of the Lieutenants of that Ship. 

The French East India Company’s ship, The Prince, 
commanded by M. Morin, and bound to Pondicherry, 
weighed anchor on the 19th of February, 1752, from the 
harbor of L’Orient. She had scarcely passed the island 
of St. Michael, when the wind shifting, it was found 
impossible to double the Turk bank. The utmost 
effort^, and the greatest precautions, could not prevent 
her from striking on the bank, in such a manner that 
the mouths of the guns were immersed in the water. 
We announced our misfortune by signals of distress, 
when M. de Godeheu, the commander of the port of 
L’Orient, came on board to animate the crew by his pre¬ 
sence and his orders. All the chests, and other articles, 
of the greatest value, were removed safely into smaller 
vessels to lighten the ship; the whole night was occu¬ 
pied with the most laborious exertions. At length the 
tide, in the morning, relieved us from our dangerous 
situation, and enabled us to reach the road of Port Lou¬ 
is : we owed the preservation of the ship entirely to the 
prudent directions of M. de Godeheu, and the measures 
adopted in consequence. The ship had sprung several 
leaks, but fortunately our pumps kept the water under: 
half the cargo was taken out of the vessel, and in about 
a week we returned to L’Orient, where she was entirely 
unloaded. She was then careened and caulked afresh. 
These precautions seemed to promise a successful voy¬ 
age, and the misfortune we had already experienced 
skewed the strength of the vessel, which fire alone ap 
peared capable of destroying. 

On the 10th of June, 1752, a favorable wind carried 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 143 

us out of the port, but after a fortunate navigation we 
met with a disaster of which the strongest expressions 
can convey but a faint idea. In this narrative I shall 
confine myself to a brief detail, as it is impossible to re¬ 
collect all the circumstances. 

The 26th of July, 1752, being in the latitude of eight 
degrees thirty minutes south, and in longitude five de¬ 
grees west, the wind being S. W. just at the moment of 
taking the observation of the meridian, I had repaired to 
the quarter, where I was going to command, when a 
man informed me that a smoke was seen to issue from 
the pannel of the greater hatchway. 

Upon this information the first lieutenant, who kept 
the keys of the hold, opened all the hatchways, to dis¬ 
cover the cause of an accident, the slightest suspicion of 
which frequently causes the most intrepid to tremble. 
The captain, who was at dinner in the great cabin, went 
upon deck and gave orders for extinguishing the fire. 
I had already directed several sails to be thrown over¬ 
board, and the hatchways to be covered with them, 
hoping, by these means, to prevent the air from pene¬ 
trating into the hold. I had even proposed, for the 
greater security, to let in the water between decks, to the 
height of a foot; but the air, which had already obtain¬ 
ed a free passage through the opening of the hatchways, 
produced a very thick smoke, that issued forth in 
abundance, and the fire continued gradually to gain 
ground. 

The captain ordered sixty or eighty of the soldiers 
under arms to restrain the crew, and prevent the con¬ 
fusion likely to ensue in such a critical moment. These 
precautions were seconded by M. de la Touche, with 
his usual fortitude and prudence. That hero deserved 
a better opportunity of signalizing himself, and had des¬ 
tined his soldiers for other operations more useful to his 
country. 

All hands were now employed in getting water; not 
only the buckets, but likewise all the pumps were kept 
at work, and pipes were carried from them into the 
hold j even the water in the jars was emptied out. The 


144 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


rapidity of the fire, however, baffled our efforts and aug¬ 
mented the general consternation. 

The captain had already ordered the yawl to be 
hoisted overboard, merely because it was in the way; 
four men, among whom was the boatswain, took posses¬ 
sion of it. They had no oars, but called out for seme, 
when three sailors jumped overboard and carried them 
what they stood so much in need of. These fortunate 
fugitives were required to return; they cried out that 
they had no rudder, and desired a rope to be thrown 
them; perceiving that the progress of the flames left 
them no other resource, they endeavored to remove to a 
distance from the ship, which passed them in conse¬ 
quence of a breeze that sprang up. 

All hands were still busy on board; the impossibility 
of escaping seemed to increase the courage of the men. 
The master boldly ventured down into the hold, but the 
heat obliged him to return; he would have been burned 
if a great quantity of water had not been thrown over 
him. Immediately afterwards, the flames were seen to 
issue with impetuosity from the great pannel. The cap¬ 
tain ordered the boats overboard, but fear had exhausted 
the strength of the most intrepid. The jolly-boat was 
fastened at a certain height, and preparations were made 
for hoisting her over; but, to complete our misfortunes, 
the fire, which increased every moment, ascended the 
main-mast with such violence and rapidity as to burn the 
tackle; the boat pitching upon the starboard guns, fell 
bottom upwards, and we lost all hopes of raising her 
again. 

We now perceived that we had nothing to hope from 
human aid, but only from the mercy of the Almighty. 
Dejection filled every mind; the consternation became 
general; nothing but sighs and groans were heard; even 
the animals we had on board uttered the most dreadful 
cries. Every one began to raise his heart and hands 
towards heaven; and in the certainty of a speedy death 
each was occupied only with the melancholy alternative 
between the two elements ready to devour us. 

The chaplain, who was on the quarter-deck, gave the 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 145 

general absolution, and went into the gallery to impart 
the same to the unhappy wretches who had already 
committed themselves to the mercy of the waves. What 
a horrid spectacle ! Each was occupied only in throw¬ 
ing overboard whatever promised a momentary preser¬ 
vation ; coops, yards, spars, every thing that came to 
hand was seized in despair and disposed of in the same 
manner. The confusion was extreme; some seemed to 
anticipate death by jumping into the sea, others, by 
swimming, gained the fragments of the vessel; while 
the shrouds, the yards, and ropes, along the side of the 
ship were covered with the crew who were suspended 
from them, as if hesitating between two extremes, equally 
imminent and equally terrible. 

Uncertain for what fate Providence intended me, I 
saw a father snatch his son from the flames, embrace 
him, throw him into the sea then following himself, they 
perished in each other’s embrace. 1 had ordered the 
helm to be turned to starboard; the vessel heeled, and 
this manoeuvre preserved us for some time on that side, 
while the fire raged on the larboard side from stem to 
stern. 

Till this moment, I had been so engaged that my 
thoughts were directed only to the preservation of the 
ship; now, however, the horrors of a twofold death pre¬ 
sented themselves ; but through the kindness of heaven, 
my fortitude never forsook me. I looked round and 
found myself alone upon the deck. I went into the 
round-house, wheye I met M. de la Touche, who regard¬ 
ed death with the same heroism that procured him suc¬ 
cess in India. “ Farewell, my brother and my friend,” 
said he, embracing me—“ Why, where are you going?” 
replied I. “ I am going, (said he,) to comfort my friend 
Morin.” He spoke of the captain, who was overwhelm¬ 
ed with grief at the melancholy fate of his female cou¬ 
sins, who were passengers on board his ship, and whom 
he had persuaded to trust themselves to sea in hen-coops, 
after having hastily stripped off their clothes, while some 
of the sailors, swimming with one hand, endeavored to 
support them with the other. 


146 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


The yards and masts were covered with men strag¬ 
gling with the waves around the vessel; many of them 
perished every moment by the balls discharged by the 
guns in consequence of the flames; a third species of 
death, that augmented the horrors by which we were 
surrounded. With a heart oppressed with anguish, I 
turned my eyes away from the sea. A moment after¬ 
wards I entered the starboard gallery, and saw the flames 
rushing with a horrid noise through the windows of the 
great cabin and the round-house. The fire approached, 
and was ready to consume me; my presence was then 
entirely useless for the preservation of the vessel, or the 
relief of my fellow sufferers. 

In this dreadful situation I thought it my duty to pro¬ 
long my life a few hours, in order to devote them to my 
God. I stripped off my clothes with the intention of 
rolling down a yard, one end of which touched the wa¬ 
ter ; but it was so covered with unfortunate wretches, 
whom the fear of drowning kept in that situation, that 
I tumbled over them and fell into the sea, recommending 
myself to the mercy of Providence. A stout soldier who 
was drowning caught hold of me in this extremity; I 
employed every exertion to disengage myself from him, 
but without effect. I suffered myself to sink under the 
water, but he did not quit his hold; I plunged a second 
time, and he still held me firmly in his grasp; he was in¬ 
capable of reflecting that my death would rather hasten 
his own than be of service to him. At length, after 
struggling a considerable time, his strength was exhaust¬ 
ed in consequence of the quantity of water he had swal¬ 
lowed, and perceiving that I was sinking the third time, 
and fearing lest I should drag him to the bottom along 
with me, he loosed his hold. That he might not catch 
me again 1 dived, and rose a considerable distance from 
the spot. 

This first adventure rendered me more cautious in fu¬ 
ture ; I even shunned the dead bodies, which were so 
numerous, that, to make a free passage, I was obliged 
to push them aside with one hand, while I kept myself 
above water with the other. I imagined that each of 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 147 

them was a man who would assuredly seize and involve 
me in his own destruction. My strength began to fail, 
and I was convinced of the necessity of resting, when I 
met a piece of the flag staff. To secure it I put my arm 
through the noose of the rope, and swam as well as I 
was able; I perceived a yard floating before me, when 
1 approached and seized it by the end. At the other ex¬ 
tremity I saw a young man, scarcely able to support 
himself, and speedily relinquished this feeble assistance 
that announced a certain death. The sprit-sail yard 
next appeared in sight; it was covered with people, and 
I durst not take a place upon it without asking permis¬ 
sion, which my unfortunate companions cheerfully grant¬ 
ed. Some were quite naked, and others in their shirts ; 
they expressed their pity at my situation, and their mis¬ 
fortune put my sensibility to the severest test. 

M. Morin and M. de la Touche, both so worthy of a 
better fate, never quitted the vessel, and were doubtless 
buried in its ruins. Whichever way I turned my 
eyes, the most dismal sights presented themselves. The 
main-mast, burnt away at the bottom, fell overboard, 
killing some, and affording toothers a precarious resource. 
This mast I observed covered with people, and abandon¬ 
ed to the impulse of the waves; at the same moment 
I perceived two sailors upon a hen-coop with some 
planks, and cried out to them, “ My lads, bring the planks, 
and swim to me.” They approached me, accompanied 
by several others; and each taking a plank, which we 
used as oars, we paddled along upon the yard, and join¬ 
ed those who had taken possession of the main-mast. 

So many changes of situation presented only new 
spectacles of horror. I fortunately here met with our 
chaplain, who “gave me absolution. We were in num¬ 
ber about eighty persons, who were incessantly threat¬ 
ened with destruction by the balls from the ship’s guns. 
I saw likewise on the mast two young ladies, by whose 
piety I was much edified ; there were six females on 
board, and the other four were, in all probability, already 
drowned or burned. Our chaplain, in this dreadful situ¬ 
ation, melted the most obdurate hearts by his discourse 


148 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


and the example he gave of patience and resignation. 
Seeing him slip from the mast and fall into the sea, as I 
was behind him, I lifted him up again. “ Let me go, 
(said he,) I am full of water, and it is only a prolonga¬ 
tion of my sufferings.” “No, my friend, (said I,) we 
will die together when my strength forsakes me.” In 
his pious company I awaited death with perfect resigna¬ 
tion. I remained in this situation three hours, and saw 
one of the ladies fall off the mast with fatigue, and pe¬ 
rish ; she was too far distant for me to give her any as¬ 
sistance. 

When I least expected it, I perceived the yawl close 
to us ; it was then five o’clock, P. M. I cried out to the 
men in her that I was their lieutenant, and begged per¬ 
mission to share our misfortune with them. They gave 
me leave to come on board, upon condition that I would 
swim to them. It was their interest to have a conductor, 
in order to discover land; and for this reason my compa¬ 
ny was too necessary for them to refuse my request. 
The condition they imposed upon me was perfectly rea¬ 
sonable ; they acted prudently not to approach, as the 
others would have been equally anxious to enter their 
little bark ; and we should all have been buried together 
in a watery grave. Mustering, therefore, all my strength, 
I was so fortunate as to reach the boat. Soon afterwards 
I observed the pilot and master, whom I had left on the 
main-mast, follow my example ; they swam to the yawl, 
and we took them in. This little bark was the means 
of saving the ten persons who alone escaped, out of 
nearly three hundred. 

The flames still continued to consume our ship, from 
which we were not more than half a league distant; our 
too great proximity might prove pernicious, and we, 
therefore, proceeded a little to windward. Not long af¬ 
ter, the fire communicated to the powder-room, and 
it is impossible to describe the noise with which our 
vessel blew up. A thick cloud intercepted the light 
of the sun ; amidst this horrible darkness we could per¬ 
ceive nothing but large pieces of flaming wood projected 
into the air, and whose fall threatened to dash to pieces 


Loss of the 1’nnce iij L ire 





































































































































































































































LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 149 

numbers of unhappy wretches still struggling with the 
agonies of death. We, ourselves, were not quite out of 
danger; it was not impossible but that one of the flam¬ 
ing fragments might reach us, and precipitate our frail 
vessel to the bottom. The Almighty, however, preserv¬ 
ed us from that misfortune; but what a spectacle now 
presented itself! The vessel had disappeared; its frag¬ 
ments covered the sea to a great distance, and floated 
in all directions with our unfortunate companions, whose 
despair and whose lives, had been terminated together 
by their fall. We saw some completely suffocated, 
others mangled, half burned, and still preserving suffi¬ 
cient life to be sensible of the accumulated horrors of 
their fate. 

Through the mercy of heaven, I retained my forti¬ 
tude, and proposed to make towards the fragments of the 
wreck to seek provisions, and to pick up any other arti¬ 
cles we might want. We were totally unprovided, and 
were in danger of perishing with famine; a death more 
tedious and more painful than that of our companions. 
We found several barrels, in which we hoped to £nd 
a resource against this pressing necessity, but discovered 
to our mortification that it was part of the powder which 
had been thrown overboard during the conflagration. 

Night approached; but we providentially found a cask 
of brandy, about fifteen pounds of salt pork, a piece of 
scarlet cloth, twenty yards of linen, a dozen ol pipe staves, 
and a few ropes. It grew dark, and we could not wait till 
daylight in our present situation, without exposing 
ourselves a hundred times to destruction among the 
fragments of the wreck, from which we had not yet 
been able to disengage ourselves. We therefore rowed 
away from them as speedily as possible, in order to at¬ 
tend to the equipment of our new vessel. Every one 
fell to work with the utmost assiduity; we employed 
every thing, and took off the inner sheathing of our boat 
for the sake of the planks and nails; we drew from the 
linen what thread we wanted; fortunately one of the 
sailors had two needles; our scarlet cloth served us for 
a sail, an oar for a mast, and a plank for a rudder. 
13* 


150 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Notwithstanding the darkness, our equipment was in a 
short time as complete as circumstances would permit. 
The only difficulty that remained was, how to direct our 
course; we had neither charts nor instruments, and were 
nearly two hundred leagues from land. We resigned 
ourselves to the mercy of the Almighty, whose assistance 
we implored in fervent prayers. 

At length we raised our sail, and a favorable wind 
removed us forever from the floating corpses of our un¬ 
fortunate companions. In this manner we proceeded 
eight days and eight nights, without perceiving land, 
exposed stark naked to the burning rays of the sun by 
day, and to intense cold by night. The sixth day, a 
shower of rain inspired us with the hope of some relief 
from the thirst by which we were tormented: we en¬ 
deavored to catch the little water that fell in our mouths 
and hands. We sucked our sail, hut having been be¬ 
fore soaked in sea-water, it communicated the bitter taste 
of the latter to the rain which it received. If, however, 
the rain had been more violent, it might have abated the 
wind that impelled us, and a calm would have been at¬ 
tended with inevitable destruction. 

That we might steer our course with the greater cer¬ 
tainty, we consulted, every day, the rising and setting of 
the sun and moon; and the stars showed us what wind 
we ought to take. A very small piece of salt pork fur¬ 
nished us one meal in the twenty-four hours: and from 
even this we were obliged to desist on the fourth day, on 
account of the irritation of the blood which it occasion¬ 
ed. Our only beverage was a glass of brandy, from 
time to time; but that liquor burned our stomachs with¬ 
out allaying our thirst. We saw abundance of flying- 
fish, hut the impossibility of catching them rendered our 
misery still more acute; we were, therefore, obliged to 
be contented with our provisions. The uncertainty with 
respect to our fate, the want of food, and the agitation of 
the sea, combined to deprive us of rest, and almost 
plunged us into despair. Nature seemed to have aban¬ 
doned her functions; a feeble ray of hope alone cheered 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 151 

our minds and prevented us from envying the fate of our 
deceased companions. 

I passed the eighth night at the helm: I remained at 
my post more than ten hours, frequently desiring to be 
relieved, till at length I sank down with fatigue. My 
miserable comrades were equally exhausted, and des¬ 
pair began to take possession of our souls. At last, when 
just perishing with fatigue, misery, hunger, and thirst, 
we discovered land, by the first rays of the sun, on 
Wednesday, the 3d of August, 1752. Only those who 
have experienced similar misfortunes can form an ade¬ 
quate conception of the change which this discovery 
produced in our minds. Our strength returned, and we 
took precautions not to be carried away by the currents. 
At two P. M. we reached the coast of Brazil, and enter¬ 
ed the bay of Tresson, in latitude six degrees. 

Our first care, upon setting foot on shore, was to thank 
the Almighty for his favors; we threw ourselves upon 
the ground, and, in the transports of our joy, rolled our¬ 
selves in the sand. Our appearance was truly frightful, 
our figures preserved nothing human that did not more 
forcibly announce our misfortunes. Some were perfectly 
naked, others had nothing but shirts that were rotten' 
and torn to rags, and 1 had fastened round my waist a 
piece of scarlet cloth, in order to appear at the head of 
my companions. We had not yet, however, arrived at 
the end of all our hardships; although rescued from the 
greatest of our dangers, that of an uncertain navigation, 
we were still tormented by hunger and thirst, and in 
cruel suspense, whether we should find this coast inha¬ 
bited by men susceptible of sentiments of compassion. 

We were deliberating which way we should direct 
our course, when about fifty Portuguese, most of whom 
were armed, advanced towards us, and inquired the rea¬ 
son of our landing. The recital of our misfortunes was 
a sufficient answer, at once announced our wants, and 
strongly claimed the sacred rights of hospitality. Their 
treasures were not the object of our desire, the neces¬ 
saries of life were all that we wanted. Touched by our 
misfortunes, they blessed the power that had preserved 


152 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


us, and hastened to conduct us to their habitations. Up 
on the way we came to a river, into which all my com* 
panions ran to throw themselves, in order to allay their 
thirst; they rolled in the water with extreme delight; 
and bathing was in the sequel one of the remedies of 
which we made the most frequent use, and which, at 
the same time, contributed most to the restoration of our 
health. 

The principal person of the place came and conducted 
us to his house, about half a league distant from the 
place of our landing. Our charitable host gave us linen 
shirts and trousers, and boiled some fish, the water of 
which served us for broth, and seemed delicious. After 
this frugal repast, though sleep was equally necessary, 
yet we prepared to render solemn thanks to the Al¬ 
mighty. Hearing that, at the distance of half a league, 
there was a church dedicated to St. Michael, we repaired 
thither, singing praises to the Lord, while we presented 
the homage of our gratitude to Him to whom we were 
so evidently indebted for our preservation. The badness 
of the road had fatigued us so much that we were oblig¬ 
ed to rest in the village; our misfortunes, together with 
such an edifying spectacle, drew all the inhabitants 
around us, and every one hastened to fetch us refresh¬ 
ments. After resting a short time, we returned to our 
kind host, who, at night, furnished us with another re¬ 
past of fresh fish. As we wanted more invigorating 
food, we purchased an ox, which we had in exchange 
for twenty-five quarts of brandy. 

We had to go to Paraibo, a journey of fifteen leagues, 
barefoot, and without any hope of meeting with good 
provisions on the way; we therefore took the precaution 
of smoke-drying our meat, and added to it a provision of 
flour. After resting three days, we departed under an 
escort of three soldiers. We proceeded seven leagues 
the first day, and passed the night at the house of a man, 
who received us kindly. The next evening, a sergeant, 
accompanied by twenty-nine soldiers, came to meet us 
for the purpose of conducting and presenting us to the 
commandant of the fortress; that worthy officer received 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH EAST INDIAMAN THE PRINCE. 153 

us graciously, gave us an entertainment, and a boat to 
go to Paraibo. It was midnight when we arrived at that 
town; a Portuguese capfain was waiting to present us 
to the governor, who gave us a gracious reception, and 
furnished us with all the comforts of life. We there 
reposed for three days, but being desirous of reaching 
Fernambuc to take advantage of a Portuguese fleet that 
was expected to sail every day, in order to return to 
Europe, the governor ordered a corporal to conduct us 
thither. My feet were so lacerated that I could scarcely 
stand, and a horse was therefore provided for me. 

At length after a journey of four days, we entered the 
town of Fernambuc. My first business was to go, with 
my people, to present myself to the general, Joseph de 
Correa, who condescended to give me an audience; after 
which Don Francisco Miguel, a captain of a king’s 
ship, took us in his boat to procure us the advantage of 
saluting the admiral of the fleet, Don Juan d’Acosta de 
Porito. During the fifty days that we remained at Fer¬ 
nambuc that gentleman never ceased to load me with 
new favors and civilities. His generosity extended to 
all my companions in misfortune, to some of whom he 
even gave appointments in the vessels of his fleet. 

On the fifth of October we set sail, and arrived with¬ 
out any accident, at Lisbon, on the 17th of December. 
On the second of January, our consul, M. du Vernay, 
procured me a passage in a vessel bound to Morlaix. 
The master and myself went on board together, the rest 
of my companions being distributed among other ships. 
I arrived at Morlaix on the 2d of February. My fatigues 
obliged me to take a few days rest in that place, from 
whence I repaired on the LOth to 1’Orient, overwhelmed 
with poverty, having lost all that I possessed in the 
world, after a service of twenty-eight years, and with 
my health greatly impaired' by the hardships I had 
endured. 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP PHCENIX, 

Off the Island of Cuba , in the year 1780 

The Phoenix, of forty-four guns, captain Sir Hyae 
Parker, was lost in a hurricane, off Cuba, in the year 
1780. The same hurricane destroyed the Thunderer, 
seventy-four; Stirling Castle, sixty-four; La Blanche, 
forty-two; Laurel, twenty-eight; Andromeda, twenty- 
eight ; Deal Castle, twenty-four; Scarborough, twenty; 
Beaver’s Prize, sixteen ; Barbadoes, fourteen; Cameleon, 
fourteen; Endeavor, fourteen; and Victor, ten guns. 
Lieutenant Archer was first lieutenant of the Phoenix at 
the time she was" lost. His narrative in a letter to his 
mother contains a most correct and animated account 
of one of the most awful events in the service. It is so 
simple and natural as to make the reader feel himself on 
board the Phoenix. Every circumstance is detailed with 
feeling, and powerful appeals are continually made to 
the heart. It must likewise afford considerable pleasure 
to observe the devout spirit of a seaman frequently burst¬ 
ing forth, and imparting sublimity to the relation. 

At sea. June 30, 1780. 


My Dearest Madam, 

I am now going to give you an account of our last 
cruise in the Phoenix; and must premise, that should 
any one see it beside yourself, they must put this con¬ 
struction on it—that it was originally intended for the 
eyes of a mother, and a mother only, as, upon that sup¬ 
position, my feelings may be tolerated. You will also 
meet with a number of sea terms, which, if you don’t un¬ 
derstand, why, I cannot help you, as t am unable to 
give a sea description in any other words. 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP PH(ENIX. 155 

To begin then:—On the 2d of August, 1780, we 
weighed and sailed for Port Royal, bound from Pensacola, 
having two store-ships under convoy, and to see safe in ; 
then cruise off the Havannah, and in the gulf of Mexi¬ 
co, for six weeks. In a few days we made the two 
sandy islands, that look as if they had just risen out of 
the sea, or fallen from the sky; inhabited nevertheless, 
by upwards of three hundred English, who get their 
bread by catching turtles and parrots, and raising vege¬ 
tables, which they exchange with ships that pass, for 
clothing and a few of the luxuries of life, as rum, &c. ' 

About the 12th we arrived at Pensacola, without any 
thing remarkable happening, except our catching a vast 
quantity of fish, sharks, dolphins, and bonettos. On the 
13th sailed singly, and on the 14th had a very heavy 
gale of wind at north, right off the land, so that we soon 
left the sweet place, Pensacola, a distance astern. We 
then looked into the Havannah, saw a number of ships 
there, and knowing that some of them were bound round 
the bay, we cruised in the track: a fortnight, however, 
passed, arid not a single ship hove in sight to cheer our 
spirits. We then took a turn or two round the gulf, but 
not near enough to be seen from the shore. Vera Cruz 
we expected would have made us happy, but the same 
luck still continued; day followed day, and no sail. 
The dollar bag began to grow a little bulky, for every 
one had lost two or three times, and no one had won: 
(this was a small gambling party entered into by Sir 
Hyde and ourselves; every one put a dollar into a bag, 
and fixed on a day when we should see a sail, but no 
two persons were to name the same day, and whoever 
guessed right first was to have the bag.) 

Being now tired of our situation, and glad the cruise 
was almost out, for we found the navigation very dan¬ 
gerous, owing to unaccountable currents; so shaped our 
course for cape Antonio. The next day the man at 
the mast-head, at about one o’clock in the afternoon, 
called out: “ A sail upon the weather bow! Ha! Ha! 
Mr. Spaniard, I think we have you at last. Turn out 


156 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


all hands ! make sail. All hands ! give chase !” There 
was scarcely any occasion for this order, for the sound 
of a sail being in sight flew like wildfire through the 
ship, and every sail was set, in an instant, almost before 
the orders were given. A lieutenant at the mast-head, 
with a spy glass, “ What is she ?” “A large ship stud¬ 
ding athwart right before the wind. P-o-r-t! Keep her 
away ! set the studding sails ready!” Up comes the 
little doctor, rubbing his hands; “ Ha ! Ha ! I have won 
the bag.” “The devil take you'and the bag; look, 
what’s ahead will fill all our bags.” Mast-head again ; 
“ Two more sail on the larboard beam !” “ Archer, go 

up and see what you can make of them.” “ Upon deck 
there; I see a whole fleet of twenty sail coming right 
before the wind.” “Confound the luck of it; this is 
some convoy or other, but we must try if we can pick 
some of them out.” “ Haul down the studding sails ! 
Luff! bring her to the wind ! Let us see what we can 
make of them.” 

About five we got pretty near them, and found them 
to be twenty-six sail of Spanish merchantmen, under 
convoy of three line-of-battle ships, one of which chased 
us; but when she found we were playing with her (for 
the old Phoenix had heels) she left chase, and joined the 
convoy; which they drew up into a lump, and placed 
themselves at the outside; but we still kept smelling 
about till after dark. O, for the Hector, the Albion, and 
a frigate, and we should take the whole fleet and con¬ 
voy, worth some millions ! About eight o’clock per¬ 
ceived three sail at some distance from the fleet; dashed 
in between them and gave chase, and were happy to 
find they steered from the fleet. About twelve, came up 
with a large ship of twenty-six guns. “ Archer, every 
man to his quarters ! run the lower deck guns out, and 
light the ship up: show this fellow our force; it may 
prevent his firing into us and killing a man or two.” 
No sooner said than done. “ Hoa, the ship ahoy ! lower 
your sails, and bring to instantly, or I’ll sink you.” 
Clatter, clatter, went the blocks, and away flew all their 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP PHCENIX. 157 

Sails in proper confusion. “ What ship is that 7” “ The 

Polly.” “ Whence came you !” “ From Jamaica.” 

“ Where are you hound 7” “ To New York.” “What 

ship is that 7” “ The Phoenix.” Huzza, three times by 

the whole ship’s company. An old grum fellow of a 
sailor standing close by me : “ O, d—n your three cheers, 
we took you tabe something else.” Upon examination 
we found it to be as he reported, and that they had fall¬ 
en in with the Spanish fleet that morning, and were 
chased the whole day, and that nothing saved them but 
our stepping in between; for the Spaniards took us for 
three consorts, and the Polly took the Phoenix for a 
Spanish frigate, till we hailed them. The other vessels 
in company were likewise bound to New York. Thus 
was I, from being worth thousands in idea, reduced to 
the old four shillings six-pence again; for the little doc¬ 
tor made the most prize money of us all that day, by 
winning the bag, which contained between thirty and 
forty dollars; but this is nothing to what we sailors 
sometimes undergo. 

After parting company, we steered S. S. E. to go round 
Antonio, and so to Jamaica, (our cruise being out,) with 
our fingers in our mouths, and all of us as green as you 
please. It happened to be my middle watch, and about 
three o’clock, when the man upon the forecastle bawls 
out “Breakers ahead, and land upon the lee bow;” I 
looked out, and it was so, sure enough. “Ready about, 
put the helm down ! Helm a lee!” Sir Hyde hearing 
me put the ship about, jumped upon deck. “Archer, 
what’s the matter7 You are putting the ship about 
without my orders!” Sir, ’tis time to go about; the 
ship is almost ashore, there is the land. “ Good God, 
so it is ! Will the ship stay 7” Yes, sir, I believe she 
will, if we don’t make any confusion; she is all aback 
—forward now7 “Well, (says he,) work the ship, I 
will not speak a single word.” The ship stayed very 
well. Then heave the lead ! see what water we have ! 
“ Three fathom.” Keep the ship away, W. N. W. 
“ By the mark three.” “ This won’t do, Archer.” No, 
sir, we had better haul more to the northward : we came 
14 


158 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


S. S. E. and had better steer N. N. W. “ Steady, and 
a quarter three.” This may do, we deepen a little. 
“ By the deep four.” Very well, my lad, heave quick. 
“ Five fathom.” That’s a fine fellow! another cast 
nimbly. “ Quarter less eight.” That will do, come, 
we shall get clear bye and bye. “ Mark under water 
five.” What’s that? “ Only five fathom, sir.” Turn 
all hands up, bring the ship to an anchor, boy. Are the 
anchors clear? “ In a moment, sir,—All clear.” What 
water have you in the chains now ? “ Eight, half nine.” 

Keep fast the anchors till I call you. “Aye, aye, sir, all 
fast.” “I have no ground with this line.” How many 
fathoms have you out ? pass along the deep sea-line ! 
“Aye, aye, sir,.” Heave away, watch! watch! bear 
away, veer away. “No ground, sir, with a hundred 
fathom.” That’s clever, come, Madame Phoenix, there 
is another squeak in you yet—all down hut the watch; 
secure the anchors again ; heave the main-top-sail to the 
mast; luff, and bring her to the wind ! 

I told you, Madam, you should have a little sea-jar¬ 
gon : if you can understand half of what is already said, 
I wonder at it, though it is nothing to what is to come 
yet, Avhen the old hurricane begins. As soon as the ship 
was a little to rights, and all quiet again, Sir Hyde came 
to me in the most friendly manner, the tears almost 
starting from his eyes—“ Archer, we ought all to be 
much obliged to you for the safety of the ship, and per¬ 
haps of ourselves. I am particularly so; nothing but 
that instantaneous presence of mind and calmness saved 
her; another ship’s length and we should have been 
fast on shore ; had you been the least diffident, or made 
the least confusion, so as to make the ship baulk in her 
stays, she must have been inevitably lost.” Sir, ypu 
are very good, but I have done nothing that I suppose 
any body else would not have done, in the same situa¬ 
tion. I did not turn all the hands up, knowing the 
watch able to work the ship; besides, had it spread im¬ 
mediately about the ship that she was almost ashore, it 
might have created a confusion that was better avoided. 
“Well,” says he, “ ’tis well indeed.” 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP PHCBNIX. 159 

At daylight we found that the current had set us be¬ 
tween the Colladora rocks and cape Antonio, and that 
we could not have got out any other way than we did; 
there was a chance, but Providence is the best pilot. 
We had sunset that day twenty leagues to the S. E. of 
our reckoning by the current. 

After getting clear of this scrape, we thought ourselves 
fortunate, and made sail for Jamaica, but misfortune 
seemed to follow misfortune. The next night, my 
watch upon deck too, we were overtaken by a squall, 
like a hurricane while it lasted; for though I saw it com¬ 
ing, and prepared for it, yet, \yhen it took the ship, it 
roared, and laid her down so, that I thought she would 
never get up again. However, by keeping her away, 
and clueing up every thing, she righted. The remainder 
of the night we had very heavy squalls, and in the morn¬ 
ing found the main-mast sprung half the way through : 
ono hundred and twenty-three leagues to the leeward of 
Jamaica, the hurricane months coming on, the head of 
the main-mast almost off, and at a short allowance; well, 
we must make the best of it. The main-mast was well 
fished, but we were obliged to be very tender of carrying 
the sail. 

Nothing remarkable happened for ten days afterwards, 
when we chased a Yankee man-of-war for six hours, 
but could not get near enough to her before it was dark, 
to keep sight of her; so that we lost her because unable 
to carry any sail on the main-mast. In about twelve 
days more made the island of Jamaica, having weather¬ 
ed all the squalls, and put into Montego bay for water; 
so that we had a strong party for kicking up a dust on 
shore, having found three men-of-war lying there. 
Dancing, &c. &c., till two o’clock every morning; little 
thinking what was to happen in four days’ time: for out 
of the four men-of-war that were there, not one was in 
being at the end of that time, and not a soul alive but 
those left of our crew. Many of the houses where we 
had been so merry, were so completely destroyed, that 
scarcely a vestige remained to mark where they stood. 


160 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Thy works are wonderful, O God! praised be thy holy 
name! 

September the 30th, weighed; bound for Port Royal, 
round the eastward of the island; the Barbadoes and 
Victor had sailed the day before, and the Scarborough 
was to sail the next. Moderate weather until October 
the 2d. Spoke the Barbadoes off Port Antonio in the 
evening. At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a 
monstrous heavy bill from the eastward. Close reefed 
the top-sails. Sir Hyde sent for me: “What sort of 
weather have we, Archer!” It blows a little, and has a 
very ugly look; if in any other qharter but this, 1 should 
say we were going to have a gale of wind. “ Aye, it 
looks so very often here when there is no wind at all; 
however, don’t hoist the top-sails till it clears a little, 
there is no trusting any country.” At twelve I was re¬ 
lieved ; the weather had the same rough look : however, 
they made sail upon her, but had a very dirty night. 
At eight in the morning I came up again, found it blow¬ 
ing hard from the E. N. E. with ciose reefed top-sails 
upon the ship, and heavy squalls at times. Sir Hyde 
came upon deck : “ Well, Archer, what do you think of 
it?” O, sir, ’tis only a touch of the times, we shall have 
an observation at twelve o’clock; the clouds are begin¬ 
ning to break ; it will clear up at noon, or else blow very 
hard afterwards. “I wish it would clear up, but I 
doubt it much. I was once in a hurricane in the East 
Indies, and the beginning of it had much the same ap¬ 
pearance as this. So take in the top-sails, we have 
plenty of sea-room.” 

At twelve, the gale still increasing, wore ship, to keep 
as near mid-channel, between Jamaica and Cuba, as 
possible; at one the gale increasing still; at two harder ! 
Reefed the courses, and furled them; brought to under 
a foul mizzen stay-sail, head to the northward. In the 
evening no sign of the weather taking off, hut every ap¬ 
pearance of the storm increasing, prepared for a proper 
gale of wind; secured all the sails with spare gaskets; 
good rolling tackles upon the yards; squared the booms; 
saw the boats all made fast; new lashed the guns; 


toss OF HIS majesty’s SHIP PHCENIX. 161 

double breeched the lower deckers; saw that the carpen-' 
ters had the tarpaulins and battens all ready for the hatch¬ 
ways ; got the top-gallant-mast down upon the deck; 
jib-boom and sprit-sail-yard fore and aft; in fact, did 
every thing we could think of to make a snug ship. 

The poor devils of birds now began to find the uproar 
in the elements, for numbers, both of sea and land kinds, 
came on board of us. I took notice of some, which hap¬ 
pening to be to leeward, turned to windward, like a ship, 
tack and tack; for they could not fly against it. When 
they came over the ship they dashed themselves down 
upon the deck, without attempting to stir till picked up, 
and when let go again, they would not leave the ship, 
but endeavored to hide themselves from the wind. 

At eight o’clock a hurricane; the sea roaring, but the 
wind still steady to a point; did not ship a spoonful of 
water. However, got the hatchways all secured, ex¬ 
pecting what would be the consequence, should the wind 
shift; placed the carpenters by the main-mast, with 
broad axes, knowing, from experience, that at the mo¬ 
ment you may want to cut it away to save the ship, an 
axe may not be found. Went to supper : bread, cheese, 
and porter. The purser frightened out of his wits about 
his bread bags; the two marine officers as white as 
sheets, not understanding the ship’s working so much, 
and the noise of the lower deck guns; which, by this 
time, made a pretty screeching to the people not used 
to it; it seemed as if the whole ship’s side was going at 
each roll. Wooden, our carpenter, was v all this time 
smoking his pipe and laughing at the doctor; the se¬ 
cond lieutenant upon deck, and the third in his ham¬ 
mock. 

At ten o’clock I thought to get a little sleep; came to 
look into my cot; it was full of water; for every seam, 
by the straining of the ship, had begun to leak. Stretch¬ 
ed myself, therefore, upon deck, between two chests, and 
left orders to be called, should the least thing happen. 
At twelve a midshipman came to me: “ Mr. Archer, we 
are just going to wear ship, sir !” O, very well, I’ll be 
up directly; what sort of weather have you got? “It 
14 * 


162 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


blows a hurricane.” Went upon deck, found Sir Hyde 
there. “ It blows damn’d hard, Archer.” It does in¬ 
deed, sir. “ I don’t know that I ever remember its blow¬ 
ing so hard before; but the ship makes a very good wea¬ 
ther of it upon this tack as she bows the sea; but we 
must wear her, as the wind has shifted to the S. E. and 
we are drawing right upon Cuba; so do you go for¬ 
ward, and have some hands stand by; loose the lee 
yard-arm of the fore-sail, and when she is right before 
the wind, whip the clue garnet close up, and roll up the 
sail.” Sir ! there is no canvas can stand against this a 
moment; if we attempt to loose him, he will fly into 
ribands in an instant, and we may lose three or 
four of our people; she’ll wear by manning the fore 
shrouds. “ O, I don’t think she will.” I’ll answer for 
it, sir; I have seen it tried several times on the coast of 
America with success. “Well, try it; if she does not 
wear, we can only loose the fore-sail afterwards.” This 
was a great condescension from such a man as Sir Hyde. 
However, by sending about two hundred people into the 
fore-rigging, after a hard struggle, she wore; found she 
did not make so good weather on this tack as on the 
other; for as the sea began to run across, she had not 
time to rise from one sea, before another dashed against 
her. Began to think we should lose our masts, as the 
ship lay very much along, by the pressure of the wind 
constantly upon the yards and masts alone : for the poor 
mizzen-stay-sail had gone in shreds long before, and the 
sails began to fly from the yards through the gaskets 
into coach whips. My God! to think that the wind 
could have such force. 

Sir Hyde now sent me to see what was the matter 
between decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As 
soon as I was below, one of the Marine officers calls 
out: “ Good God! Mr. Archer, we are sinking, the wa¬ 
ter is up to the bottom of my cot.” Pooh, pooh ! as long 
as it is not over your mouth, you are well off; what the 
devil do you make this noise for ? I found there was 
some water between decks, but nothing to be alarmed 
at: scuttled the deck, and it ran into the well; found 


LOSS OP his majesty’s ship phcenix. 163 

she made a good deal of water through the sides and 
decks; turned the watch below to the pumps, though 
only two feet of water in the well; but expected to be 
kept constantly at work now, as the ship labored much, 
with scarcely a part of her above water but the quarter¬ 
deck, and that but seldom. “ Come, pump away, my 
boys. Carpenters, get the weather chain-pump rigged.” 
“ All ready, sir. Then man it, and keep both pumps 
going.” 

At two o’clock the chain pump was choked; set the 
carpenters at work to clear it; the two head pumps at 
work upon deck: the ship gained upon us while our 
chain-pumps were idle; in a quarter of an hour they 
were at work again, and we began to gain upon her. 
While 1 was standing at the pumps, cheering the people, 
the carpenter’s mate came running to me with a face as 
long as my arm: “ O, sir ! the ship has sprung a leak in 
the gunner’s room.” Go, then, and tell the carpenter to 
come to me, but do not speak a word to any one else. 
Mr. Goodinoh, I am told there is a leak in the gunner’s 
room ; go and see what is the matter, but do not alarm 
any body, and come and make your report privately to 
me. In a short time he returned ; “ Sir, there is nothing 
there, it is only the water washing up. between the tim¬ 
bers, that this booby has taken for a leak.” O, very 
well; go upon deck and see if you can keep any of the 
water from washing down below. Sir, I have had four 
people constantly keeping the hatchways secure, but 
there is such a weight of water upon the deck that no¬ 
body can stand it when the ship rolls.. The gunner 
soon afterwards came to me, saying, “ Mr. Archer, I 
should be glad if you would step this way into the 
magazine for a moment.” I thought some damned thing 
was the matter, and ran directly. Well, what is the 
matter here ? He answered, “ The ground tier of powder 
is spoiled,'and I want to show you that it is not out of 
carelessness in me in stowing it, for no powder in the 
world could be better stowed. Now, sir, what am I to 
do ? If you do not speak to Sir Hyde, he will be angry 
with me.” I could not forbear smiling to see how easy 


164 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


he took the danger of the ship, and said to him, let us 
shake off this gale of wind first, and talk of the damaged 
powder afterwards. 

At four, we had gained upon the ship a little, and I 
went upon deck, it being my watch. The second lieu¬ 
tenant relieved me at the pumps. Who can attempt to 
describe the appearance of things upon deck? If I was 
to write forever, I could not give you an idea of it^-a to¬ 
tal darkness all above; the sea on fire, running as it 
were in Alps, or Peaks of Teneriffe ; (mountains are too 
common an idea;) the wind roaring louder than thunder, 
(absolutely no flight of imagination,) the whole made 
more terrible, if possible, by a very uncommon kind of 
blue lightning; the poor ship was very much pressed, 
yet doing what she could, shaking her sides, and groan¬ 
ing at every stroke. Sir Hyde upon deck, lashed to 
windward ! I soon lashed myself alongside of him; and 
told him the situation of things below, saying the ship 
did not make more water than might be expected in 
such weather, and that I was only afraid of a gun break¬ 
ing loose. “ I am not in the least afraid of that; I have 
commanded her six years, and have had many a gale of 
wind in her; so that her iron work, which always gives 
way first, is pretty well tried. Hold fast! that was an 
ugly sea; we must lower the yards, I believe, Archer; 
the ship is much pressed.” If we attempt it, sir, we 
shall lose them, for a man aloft can do nothing; besides, 
their being down would ease the ship very little; the 
main-mast is a sprung mast; I wish it was overboard 
without carrying any thing else along with it; but that 
can soon be done, the gale cannot last forever ; ’it will soon 
be daylight now. Found by the master’s watch that it 
was five o’clock, though but a little after four by ours: 
glad it was so near daylight, and looked for it with 
much anxiety. Cuba, thou art much in our way! 
Another ugly sea; sent a midshipman to bring news 
from the pumps; the ship was gaining on them very 
much, for they had broken one of their chains, but it 
was almost mended again. News from the pump again. 
“She still gains! a heavy lee !” Back water from the 


Loss fj the ['hocnix. 1 'age 107 . 



































































































LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP PHCENIX. 165 

leeward, half way up the quarter deck; filled one of the 
cutters upon the booms, and tore her all to pieces; the 
ship lying almost on her beam-ends, and not attempting 
to right again. Word from below that the ship still 
gained on them, as they could not stand to the pumps, 
she lay so much along. I said to Sir Hyde:—This is 
no time, sir, to think of saving the masts ; shall we cut 
the main-mast away? “ Aye! as fast as you can.” I 
accordingly went into the weather chains with a pole 
ax, to cut away the lanyards; the boatswain went to lee¬ 
ward, and the carpenters stood by the mast. We were 
all ready, and a very violent sea broke right on board of 
us, carried every thing upon deck away, filled the ship 
with water, the main and mizzen-masts went, the ship 
righted, but was in the last struggle of sinking under us. 

As soon as we could shake our heads above water, 
Sir Hyde exclaimed, “ We are gone, at last, Archer ! 
foundered at sea!” Yes, sir, farewell, and the Lord 
have mercy upon us! I then turned about to look at 
the ship; and thought she was struggling to get rid of 
some of the water ; but all in vain, she was almost full 
below. “ Almighty God ! I thank thee, that now I am 
leaving this world, which I have always considered as 
only a passage to a.better, 1 die with a full hope of thy 
mercies through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our 
Savior!” * 

I then felt sorry that I could swim, as by that means 
[ might be a quarter of an hour longer dying than a man 
who could not, and it is impossible to divest ourselves 
of a wish to preserve life. At the end of these reflections 
I thought I heard the ship thump and grinding under 
our feet; it was so. Sir, the ship is ashore! “ What 
do you say ?” The ship is ashore, and we may save 
ourselves yet! By this time the quarter-deck was full 
of men who had come up from below; and the Lord 
have mercy upon us, flying about from all quarters. 
The ship now made every body sensible that she was 
ashore, for every stroke threatened a total dissolution 
of her whole frame; found she was stern ashore, and 
the bow broke the sea a good deal, though it was wash- 


166 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ing clean over at every stroke. Sir Hyde cried out l 
“ Keep to the quarter-deck, my lads, when she goes to 
pieces, it is your best chance!” Providentially got the 
fore-mast cut away, that she might not pay round broad¬ 
side. Lost five men cutting away the foremast, by the 
breaking of a sea on board just as the mast went. That 
was nothing; every one expected it would be his own 
fate next; looked for daybreak with the greatest impa¬ 
tience. At last it came; but what a scene did it show 
us ! The ship upon a bed of rocks, mountains of them on 
one side, and Cordilleras of water on the other ; our poor 
ship grinding and crying out at every stroke between 
them; going away by piece-meal. However, to show 
the unaccountable workings of Providence, that which 
often appears to be the greatest evil, proves to be the 
greatest good ! That unmerciful sea lifted and beat us 
up so high among the rocks, that at last the ship scarcely 
moved. She was very strong, and did not go to pieces 
at the first thumping, though her decks tumbled in. 
We found afterwards that she had beat over a ledge of 
rocks, almost a quarter of a mile in extent beyond us, 
where if she had struck, every soul of us must have pe¬ 
rished. 

I now began to think of getting on shore, so stripped 
off my coat and shoes for a swim, and looked for a 
line to carry the end with me. Luckily could not find 
one, which gave me time for recollection : u This won't 
do for me, to be the first man out of the ship, and first 
lieutenant; we may get to England again, and people 
may think I paid a great deal of attention to myself, and 
did not care for any body else. No, that won’t do; in¬ 
stead of being the first, I’ll see every man, sick and well, 
out of her before me.” 

I now thought there was no probability of the ship’s 
soon going to pieces, therefore had not a thought of in¬ 
stant death; took a look round with a kind of philo¬ 
sophic eye, to see how the same situation affected my 
companions, and was surprised to find the most swag¬ 
gering, swearing bullies in fine weather, now the most 
pitiful wretches on earth, when death appeared before 


toss OF his Majesty’s ship phcenix. 167 

them. However, two got safe; by which means, with 
a line, we got a hawser on shore, and made fast to the 
rocks, upon which many ventured and arrived safely. 
There were some sick and wounded on board, who 
could not avail themselves of this method; we there¬ 
fore got a spare top-sail-yard from the chains and placed 
one end ashore and the other on the cabin window, so 
that most of the sick got ashore this way. 

As I had determined, so I was the last man out of the 
ship ; this was about ten o’clock. The gale now began 
to break. Sir Hyde came to me, and taking me by the 
hand was so affected that he was scarcely able to speak. 
“ Archer, I am happy beyond expression to see you on 
the shore; but look at our poor Phoenix !” I turned 
about, but could not say a single word, being too full: 
my mind had been too intensely occupied before; but 
every thing now rushed upon me at once, so that I could 
not contain myself, and I indulged for a full quarter of 
an hour. 

By twelve it was pretty moderate ; got some nails on 
shore and made tents; found great quantities of fish 
driven up by the sea into holes of the rocks; knocked 
up a fire, and had a most comfortable dinner. In the 
afternoon made a stage from the cabin windows to the 
rocks, and got out some provisions and water, lest the 
ship should go to pieces, in which case we must all have 
perished of hunger and thirst; for we were upon a deso¬ 
late part pi the coast, and under a rocky mountain, that 
could not supply us with a single drop of water. 

Slept comfortably this night, and the next day; the 
idea of death vanishing by degrees, the prospect of being 
prisoners, during the war, at the Havannah, and walk¬ 
ing three hundred miles to it through the woods, was 
rather unpleasant. However, to save life for the present, 
we employed this day in getting more provisions and 
water on shore, which was not an easy matter, on ac¬ 
count of decks, guns, and rubbish, and ten feet water 
that lay over them. In the evening I proposed to Sir 
Hyde to repair the remains of the only boat left, and to 
venture in her to Jamaica myself; and in case I arrived 


168 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


safe, to bring vessels to take them all off; a proposal 
worthy of consideration. It was next day agreed to; 
therefore, got the cutter on shore, and set the carpenters 
to work on her ; in two days she was ready, and at four 
o’clock in the afternoon, I embarked with four volunteers 
and a fortnight’s provision ; hoisted English colors as 
we. put off from shore, and received three cheers from 
the lads left behind, and set sail with a light heart; hav¬ 
ing not the least doubt, that, with God’s assistance, we 
should come and bring them all off. Had a very squally 
night, and a very leaky boat, so as to keep two buckets 
constantly baling. Steered her, myself, the whole night 
by the stars, and in the morning saw the coast of Jamai¬ 
ca, distant twelve leagues. At eight in the evening, ar¬ 
rived at Montego bay. 

I must now begin to leave off, particularly as I have 
but half an hour to conclude ; else my pretty little short 
letter will lose its passage, which I should not like, after 
being ten days, at different times, writing it; beating up 
with the convoy to the northward, which is a reason 
that this epistle will never read well; for I never sat 
down with a proper disposition to go on with it; but as 
I knew something of the kind would please you, I was 
resolved to finish it: yet it will not bear an overhaul; 
so do not expose your son’s nonsense. 

But to proceed—I instantly sent off an express to the 
Admiral, another to the Porcupine man-of-war, and went 
myself to Martha Bray to get vessels; for all their ves¬ 
sels here, as well as many of their horses, were gone to 
Moco. Got three small vessels, and set out back again 
to Cuba, where I arrived the fourth day after leaving my 
companions. I thought the ship’s crew would have de¬ 
voured me on my landing; they presently whisked me 
up on their shoulders, and carried me to the tent; where 
Sir Hyde was. 

I must omit many little occurrences that happened on 
shore, for want of time; but I shall have a number of 
stories to tell, when I get alongside of you; ^nd the next 
time I visit you, I shall not be in such a hurry to quit 
you as I was the last, for then I hoped my nest would 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LA TRIBUNE. 169 

have been pretty well feathered:—But my tale is for¬ 
gotten. 

I found the Porcupine had arrived that day, and the 
lads had built a boat almost ready for launching, that 
would hold fifty of them, which was intended for another 
trial, in case I had foundered. Next day, embarked all 
our people that were left, amounting to two hundred and 
fifty; for some had died of the wounds they received 
in getting on shore; others of drinking rum, and others 
had straggled into the country. All our vessels were so 
full of people, that we could not take away the few 
clothes that were saved from the wreck; but that was 
a trifle since we had preserved our lives and liberty. 
To make short of my story, we all arrived safe at Mon¬ 
tego bay, and shortly after at Port Royal, in the Janus, 
which was sent on purpose for us, and were all honora¬ 
bly acquitted for the loss of the ship. I was made ad¬ 
miral’s aid de camp, and a little time afterwards sent 
down to St. Juan as a captain of the Resource, to bring 
what were left of the poor devils to Blue Fields, on the 
Musquito shore, and then to Jamaica, where they arriv¬ 
ed after three months, absence, and without a prize, 
though I looked out hard off Porto Bello and Carthage- 
na. Found, in my absence, that I had been appointed 
captain of the Tobago, where I remain his majesty’s 
most true and faithful servant, and my dear mother’s 
most dutiful son. -ARCHER. 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LA TRIBUNE, 
Off Halifax , (Nova Scotia ,) November , 1797. 

La Tribune was one ot the finest frigates in his ma¬ 
jesty’s navy; mounted forty-four guns, and had recently 
been taken from the French by captain Williams, in the 
Unicorn frigate. She was commanded by captain S. 
Barker ; on the 22d of September, 1797, sailed from Tor- 
bay, as convoy to the Quebec and Newfoundland fleets. 



170 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

In latitude forty-nine degrees, fourteen minutes, longi¬ 
tude seventeen degrees twenty-two minutes she fell in 
with and spoke his majesty’s ship Experiment, from 
Halifax; and lost sight of all her convoy on the 10th of 
October, in latitude seventy-four degrees sixteen minutes, 
longitude thirty-two degrees eleven minutes. 

About eight o’clock in the morning of the following 
Thursday, they came in sight of the harbor of Halifax, 
and approached it very fast, with an E. S. E. wind, 
when captain Barker proposed to the master to lay the 
ship to, till they could procure a pilot. The master re¬ 
plied, that he had beat a forty-four gun ship into the har¬ 
bor, that he had frequently been there, and there was no 
occasion for a pilot, as the wind was favorable. Con¬ 
fiding in these assurances, captain Barker went into his 
cabin, where he was employed in arranging some papers 
which he intended to take on shore with him. In the 
mean time, the master, placing great dependence on the 
judgment of a negro, named John Cosey, who had for¬ 
merly belonged to Halifax, took upon himself the pilot¬ 
age of the ship. By twelve o’clock, the ship had ap¬ 
proached so near Thrum Cap shoals, that the master 
became alarmed, and sent for Mr. Galvin, master’s mate, 

,who was sick below. On his coming upon deck, he 
heard the man in the chains sing out, “by the mark 
five!” the black man forward at the same time crying, 
“ steady !” Galvin got on one of the carronades to ob¬ 
serve the situation of the ship; the master ran, in great 
agitation, to the wheel, and took it from the man who 
was steering, with the intention of wearing the ship; 
but before this could be effected, or Galvin was able to 
give an opinion, she struck. Captain Barker immedi¬ 
ately went on deck and reproached the master with hav¬ 
ing lost the ship. Seeing Galvin likewise on deck, he ad¬ 
dressed him, and said, “ that, knowing he had formerly 
sailed out of the harbor, he was surprised he could 
stand by and see the master run the ship on shoreto 
which Galvin replied, “ that he had not been on deck 
long enough to give an opinion.” 

Signals of distress were instantly made, and answer- 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP LA TRIBUNE. 171 

ed by military posts and ships in the harbor, from which, 
as well as the dock-yard, boats immediatety put off to 
the relief of the Tribune. The military boats, and one 
of those from the dock yard, with Mr. Rackum, boat¬ 
swain of the Ordinary, reached the ship, but the wind 
was so much against the others, that, in spite of all their 
exertions, they were unable to get on board. The ship 
was immediately lightened, by throwing overboard ail 
her guns, excepting one retained for signals, and every 
other heavy article, so that about half past eight o’clock 
in the evening, the ship began to heave, and at nine, got 
off the shoals. She had lost her rudder about three 
hours before, and it was now found, on examination, 
that she had seven feet of water in her hold. The chain- 
pumps were immediately manned, and such exertions 
were made, that they seemed to gain on the leaks. 
By the advice of Mr. Rackum, the captain ordered the 
best bower anchor to be let go, but this did not bring her 
up. He then ordered the cable to be cut; and the jib 
and fore top-mast stay-sail were hoisted to steer by. 
During this interval a violent gale, which had come on 
at S. E., kept increasing, and carrying the ship to the 
western shore. The small bower anchor was soon af¬ 
terwards let go: at which time they found themselves 
in thirteen fathom water, and the mizzen-mast was then 
cut away. 

It was now ten o’clock, and as the water gained fast 
upon them, the crew had but little hope left of saving 
either the ship or their lives. At this critical period, 
lieutenant Campbell quitted the ship, and lieutenant 
North was taken into the boat, out of one of the ports. 
From the moment at which the former left the vessel, all 
hopes of safety had vanished ; the ship was sinking fast, 
the storm was increasing with redoubled violence, and 
the rocky shore which they were approaching, resound¬ 
ing with the tremendous noise of the rolling billows, 
presented nothing to those who might survive the loss 
of the ship, but the expectation of a more painful death, 
by being dashed against precipices, which, even in the 
calmest day, it is impossible to ascend. Dunlap, one 


172 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


of the survivors, declared, that about half past ten, as 
nearly as he could conjecture, one of the men who had 
been below, came to him on the forecastle, and told 
him it was all over. A few minutes afterwards, the ship 
took a lurch, like a boat nearly filled with water and 
going down; on which Dunlap immediately began to 
ascend the fore-shrouds, and at the same moment cast¬ 
ing his eyes towards the quarter-deck, he saw captain 
Barker standing by the gangway, and looking into the 
water, and directly afterwards he heard him call for the 
jolly-boat. He then saw the lieutenant of marines run¬ 
ning towards the taffrel, to look, as he supposed, for the 
jolly-boat, which had been previously let down with 
men in her; but the ship instantly took a second lurch 
and sank to the bottom, after which neither the captain 
nor any of the other officers were again seen. 

The scene, before sufficiently distressing, now became 
peculiarly awful. More than two hundred and forty 
men, besides several women and children, were floating 
on the waves, making the last effort to preserve life. 
Dunlap, who has been already mentioned, gained the 
fore-top. Mr. Gajvin, the master’s mate, with incredible 
difficulty, got into the main-top. He was below, when 
the ship sank, directing the men at the chain-pump, but 
was washed up the hatchway, thrown into the waist, 
and from thence into the water, and his feet, as he plung¬ 
ed, struck against a rock. On ascending he swam to 
gain the main-shrouds, when three men suddenly seized 
hold of him. He now gave himself up for lost; but to 
disengage himself from them he made a dive into the 
water, whicfi caused them to quit their grasp. On rising 
again he swam to the shrouds, and having reached the 
main-top, seated himself on an arm chest which was 
lashed to the mast. 

From the observations of Galvin, in the main-top, and 
Dunlap, in the fore-top, it appears that nearly one hun¬ 
dred persons were hanging for a considerable time, to the 
shrouds, the tops, and other parts of the wreck. From 
the length of the night, and the severity of the storm, 
nature, however, became exhausted, and during the 


Lo»s of the La Tribune . I J,i S e ^ 
















































































































































. . ..a- z. * 







, 





















































-••; ■ ' 





loss of his majesty’s ship la tribune. 173 

whole night, they kept dropping off and disappearing. 
The cries and groans of the unhappy sufferers, from the 
bruises many of them had received, and their hopes of 
deliverance beginning to fail, were continued through 
the night; but as morning approached, in consequence 
of the few who then survived, they became extremely 
feeble. 

About twelve o’clock, the main-mast gave way; at 
that time there were, on the main-top and shrouds, about 
forty persons. By the fall of the mast the whole of 
these unhappy wretches were again plunged into the 
water, and ten only regained the top, which rested on 
the main yard, and the whole remained fast to the ship 
by some of the rigging. Of the ten, who thus reached 
the top, four only were alive when morning appeared. 
Ten were at that time alive on the fore-top, but three 
were so exhausted, and so helpless, that they were 
washed away before any relief arrived ; three others pe¬ 
rished, and thus only four were, at last, left alive on the 
fore-top. 

The place, where the ship went down, was barely 
three times her length to the southward of the entrance 
into Herring Cove. The inhabitants came down in the 
night, to the point opposite to which the ship sank, kept 
up large fires, and were so near as to converse with the 
people on the wreck. 

The first exertion that was made for their relief was 
by a boy thirteen years old, from Herring Cove, who 
ventured oft' in a small skiff by himself about eleven 
o’clock, the next day. This youth, with great labor and 
extreme risk to himself, boldly approached the wreck, 
and backed in his little boat so near to the fore-top, as 
to take off two of the men, for the boat could not, with 
safety, hold any more. And here a trait of generous 
magnanimity was exhibited, which ought not to pass 
unnoticed. Dunlap and another man, named Monro, 
had, throughout this disastrous night, preserved their 
strength and spirits in a greater degree, than their un¬ 
fortunate companions, whom they endeavored to cheer 
and encourage when they found their spirits sinking. 
15 * 


174 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

* 

Upon the arrival of the boat, these two might have step 
ped into it, and thus have terminated their own suffer 
ings; for their two companions, though alive, were un¬ 
able to stir ; they lay exhausted on the top, wishing not. 
to be disturbed, and seemed desirous to perish in that 
situation. These generous fellows hesitated not a mo¬ 
ment to remain, themselves, on the wreck, and to save 
their unfortunate companions, against their will. They 
lifted them up, and with the greatest exertion placed 
them in the little skiff; the manly boy rowed them tri¬ 
umphantly to the Cove, and immediately had them con¬ 
veyed to a comfortable habitation. After shaming, by 
his example, older persons, who had larger boats, he 
again put off with his skiff, but with all his efforts, he 
could not then approach the wreck. His example, how¬ 
ever, was soon followed by four of the crew, who had 
escaped in the Tribune’s jolly-boat, and by some of the 
boats in the Cove. With their joint exertions, the eight 
men were preserved, and these, with the four who had 
saved themselves in the jolly-boat, were the whole of the 
Survivors of this line ship’s company. 

A circumstance occurred, in which that cool thought¬ 
lessness of danger, which so often distinguishes the 
British tars, was displayed in such a striking manner, 
that it would be inexcusable to omit it. Daniel Monro, 
as we have already seen, had gained the fore-top. He 
suddenly disappeared, and it was concluded he had 
been washed away, like many others. After being ab¬ 
sent from the top about two hours, he, to the surprise of 
Dunlap, who was likewise on the fore-top, raised his 
head through the lubber-hole. Dunlap inquiring where 
he had been, he told him he had been cruising for a 
better birth; that after swiming about the wreck a con¬ 
siderable time, he had returned to the fore-shrouds, and 
crawling in on the cat-harpings, had actually been sleep¬ 
ing there more than an hour, and appeared greatly re¬ 
freshed. 


AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMINE IN THE AME¬ 
RICAN SHIP PEGGY, 

On her return from the Azores to New York , in 1765. 

Famine frequently leads men to the commission of the 
most horrible excesses: insensible, on such occasions, to 
the appeals of nature and reason, man assumes the cha¬ 
racter of a beast of prey ; he is deaf to every representa¬ 
tion, and coolly meditates the death of his fellow-crea¬ 
ture. 

One of these scenes, so afflicting to humanity, was, in 
the year 1765, exhibited in the brigantine the Peggy, 
David Harrison, commander, freighted by certain mer¬ 
chants of New York, and bound to the Azores. She 
arrived without accident at Fayal, one of those islahds, 
and having disposed of her cargo, took on board a 
lading of wine and spirits. On the 24th of October, 
of the same year, she set sail on her return to New 
York. 

On the 29th, the wind, which had till then been favor¬ 
able, suddenly shifted. Violent storms, which succeeded 
each other, almost without interruption, during the 
month of November, did much damage to the vessel. 
In spite of all the exertions of the crew, and the experi¬ 
ence of the captain, the masts went by the board, and 
all the sails, excepting one, were torn to rags : and, to 
add to their distress, several leaks were discovered in 
the hold. 

At the beginning of December, the wind abated a little, 
but the vessel was driven out of her course; and, desti¬ 
tute of masts, sails, and rigging, she was perfectly un¬ 
manageable, and drifted to and fro, at the mercy of the 
waves. This, however, was the smallest evil; another 
of a much more alarming nature soon manifested itself. 


176 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Upon examining the state of the provisions, they were 
found to he almost totally exhausted. In this deplora¬ 
ble situation, the crew had no hope of relief, but from 
chance. 

A few days after this unpleasant discovery, two ves¬ 
sels were descried early one morning, and a transient 
ray of hope cheered the unfortunate crew of the Peggy. 
The sea ran so high as to prevent captain Harrison from 
approaching the ships, which were soon out of sight. 
The disappointed seamen, who were in want of every 
thing, then fell upon the wine and brandy, with which 
the ship was laden. They allotted to the captain two 
small jars of water, each containing about a gallon, 
being the remainder of their stock. Some days elapsed, 
during which the men, in some measure, appeased the 
painful cravings of hunger, by incessant intoxication. 

On the fourth day, a ship was observed bearing to¬ 
wards them, in full sail: no time was lost in making 
signals of distress, and the crew had the inexpressible 
satisfaction to perceive that they were answered. The 
sea was sufficiently calm to permit the two vessels to ap¬ 
proach each other. The strangers seemed much affect¬ 
ed by the account of their sufferings and misfortunes, 
and promised them a certain quantity of biscuit; hut it 
was not immediately sent on board, the captain alleging, 
as an excuse for the delay, that he had just begun a 
nautical observation, which he was desirous to finish. 
However unreasonable such a pretext appeared, under 
the present circumstances, the famished crew of the 
Peggy was obliged to submit. The time mentioned by 
the captain had nearly expired, when, to their extreme 
mortification, the latter, regardless of his promise, crowd¬ 
ed all his sails and bore away. No language is ade¬ 
quate to describe the despair and consternation which 
then overwhelmed the crew. Enraged, and destitute of 
hope they fell upon whatever they had spared till then. 
The only animals that remained on board were a couple 
of pigeons and a cat, which were devoured in an in¬ 
stant. The only favor they showed the captain was, to 
reserve for him the head of the cat. He afterwards de- 


A FAMINE IN THE AMERICAN SHIP PEGGY. 177 

dared, that however disgusting it would have been on 
any other occasion, he thought it, at that moment, a treat 
exquisitely delicious. The unfortunate men then sup¬ 
ported their existence by living on oil, candles, and 
leather, and these were entirely consumed by the 28th 
of December. 

From that day until the 13th of January, it is impos¬ 
sible to tell, in what manner they subsisted. Captain 
Harrison had been for some time unable to leave his ca¬ 
bin, being confined to his bed by a severe fit of the gout. 
On the last mentioned day, the sailors went to him in a 
body, with the mate at their head; the latter acted as 
spokesman, and after an affecting representation of the 
deplorable state to which they were reduced, declared 
that it was necessary to sacrifice one, in order to save 
the rest; adding, that their resolution was irrevocably 
fixed, and that they intended to cast lots for the victim. 

The captain, a tender and humane man, could not 
hear such a barbarous proposition without shuddering; 
he represented to them that they were men, and ought 
to regard each other as brethren; that by such an as¬ 
sassination, they would forever consign themselves to 
universal execration, and commanded them, with all his 
authority, to relinquish the idea of committing such an 
atrocious crime. The captain was silent; but he had 
spoken to deaf men. They all with one voice replied, 
that it was indifferent to them, whether he approved of 
their resolution or not; that they had only acquainted 
him with it, out of respect, and because he would run 
the same risk as themselves; adding that, in the general 
misfortune, all command and distinction were at an end. 
With these words, they left him, and went upon deck, 
where the lots were drawn. 

A negro, who was on board and belonged to captain 
Harrison, was the victim. It is more than probable, that 
the lot had been consulted only for the sake of form, 
and that the wretched black was proscribed, the moment 
the sailors first formed their resolution. They instantly 
sacrificed him. One of the crew tore out his liver and 
devoured it, without having the patience to dress it by 


178 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


broiling, or in any other manner. He was soon after¬ 
wards taken ill, and died the following day in convul¬ 
sions, and with all the symptoms of madness. Some ot 
his comrades proposed to keep his body to live upon, 
after the negro was consumed; but this advice was re¬ 
jected by the majority, doubtless on account of the ma¬ 
lady which had carried him off. He was, therefore, 
thrown overboard, and consigned to the deep. 

The captain, in the intervals, when he was the least 
tormented by the gout, was not more exempt from the 
attacks of hunger, than the rest of the crew, but he re¬ 
sisted all the persuasions of his men to partake of their 
horrid repast. He contented himself with the water 
which had been assigned to him, mixing with it a small 
quantity of spirits, and this was the only sustenance he 
took during the whole period of his distress. 

The body of the negro, equally divided, and eaten 
with the greatest economy, lasted till the 26th of Janu¬ 
ary. On the 29th, the famished crew deliberated upon 
selecting a second victim. They again came to inform 
the captain of their intention, and he appeared to give 
his consent, fearing lest the enraged sailors might have 
recourse to the lot without him. They left it with him 
to fix upon any method that he should think proper. 
The captain, summoning all his strength, wrote upon 
small pieces of paper, the name of each man who was 
then on board the brigantine, folded them up, put them 
into a hat, and shook them well together. The crew, 
meanwhile, preserved an awful silence; each eye was 
fixed, and each mouth was open, while terror was 
strongly impressed upon every countenance. With a 
trembling hand, one of them drew, from the hat, the fatal 
billet, which he delivered to the captain, who opened it 
and read aloud the name of David Flatt. The unfortu¬ 
nate man, on whom the lot had fallen, appeared perfectly 
resigned to his fate :—“ My friends, (said he to his com¬ 
panions,) the only favor I request of you, is, not to keep 
me long in pain; dispatch me as speedily as you did 
the negro.” Then turning to the man who had per¬ 
formed the first execution, he added:—“ It is you, I 


A FAMINE TN THE AMERICAN SHIP PEGGY. 179 

choose to give me the mortal blow.” He requested an 
hour to prepare himself for death, to which his com¬ 
rades could only reply with tears. Meanwhile, compas¬ 
sion, and the remonstrances of the captain, prevailed 
over the hunger of the most hard-hearted. They unani¬ 
mously resolved to defer the sacrifice till eleven o’clock 
the following morning. Such a short reprieve afforded 
very little consolation to Flatt. 

The certainty of dying the next day made such a 
deep impression upon the mind, that his body, which, 
for above a month, had withstood the almost total priva¬ 
tion of nourishment, sank beneath it. He was seized 
with a violent fever, and his state was so much aggra¬ 
vated by a delirium, with which it was accompanied, 
"that some of the sailors proposed to kill him immedi¬ 
ately, in order to terminate his sufferings. The majority, 
however, adhered to the resolution which had been taken, 
of waiting till the following morning. 

At ten o’clock in the morning of the 30th of January, 
a large fire was already made to dress the limbs of the 
unfortunate victim, when a sail was descried, at a dis¬ 
tance. A favorable wind drove her towards the Peggy, 
and she proved to be the Susan, returning from Virginia, 
and bound to London. 

The captain could not refrain from tears at the affect¬ 
ing account of the sufferings endured by the famished 
crew. He lost no time in affording them relief, supply¬ 
ing them immediately with provisions and rigging, and 
offered to convoy the Peggy to London. The distance 
from New York, their proximity to the English coast, 
together with the miserable state of the brigantine, in¬ 
duced the two captains to proceed to England. The 
voyage was prosperous; only two men died; all the 
others gradually recovered their strength. Flatt him¬ 
self was restored to perfect health, after having been so 
near the gates of death. 


THE WRECKED SEAMEN. 


The annexed thrilling sketch is extracted from the 
:c Life of a Sailor, by a Captain in the British Navy. v 
It relates to the exposures of the crew of the Magpie, 
who had taken to the boat, after their shipwreck on 
the coast of Cuba. The boat was upset,—the storm 
continues:— 

“ Even in this moment of peril, the discipline of the 
navy assumed its command. At the order from the lieu¬ 
tenant for the men on the keel to relinquish their position 
they instantly obeyed, the boat was turned over and 
once more the expedient was tried, but quite in vain; for 
no sooner had the two men begun to bale with a cou¬ 
ple of hats, and the safety of the crew to appear within 
the bounds of probability, than one man declared he saw 
the fin of a shark. No language can convey an idea of 
the panic which seized the struggling seamen; a shark 
is at all times an object of horror to a sailor; and those 
who have seen the destructive jaws of this voracious 
fish, and their immense and almost incredible power, 
their love of blood, and their bold daring to obtain it, 
alone can form an idea of the sensations produced in a 
swimmer by the cry of “ a shark ! a shark !” Every 
man now struggled to obtain a moment’s safety. Well 
they knew that one drop of blood would have been 
scented by the everlasting pilot-fish, the jack alls of the 
shark; and that their destruction was inevitable, if one 
only of these monsters should discover this rich repast, 
or be led to its food by the little rapid hunter of its prey. 
All discipline was now unavailing, the boat again turned 
keel up; one man only gained his security, to be pushed 
from it by others, and thus their strength began to fail 
from long continued exertion. However, as the enemy 
so much dreaded did not make its appearance, Smith 
once more urged them to endeavor to save themselves 


THE WRECKED SEAMEN. 


181 


by the only means left, that of the boat; but as he knew, 
that he would only increase their alarm by endeavoring 
to persuade them that sharks did not abound in these 
parts, he used the wisest plan of desiring those who 
held on by the gun-wale, to keep splashing in the water 
with their legs in order to frighten the monsters at which 
they were so alarmed. Once more had hope begun to 
dawn:—the boat was clear to her thwarts, and four 
men were in her, hard at work ; a little forbearance and 
a little obedience, and they were safe. At this moment, 
when those in the water urged their messmates in the 
boat to continue baling with unremitted exertion, a noise 
was heard close to them, and about fifteen shares came 
right in amongst them. The panic was ten times more 
dreadful than before; the boat was again upset by the 
simultaneous endeavor to escape the danger; and the 
twenty-two sailors were again devoted to destruction. 
A*t first, the sharks did not seem inclined to seize their 
prey, but swam in amongst the men, playing in the wa¬ 
ter, sometimes leaping about and rubbing against their 
victims. This was of short duration; a loud shriek from 
one of the men announced his sudden pain; a shark had 
seized him by the leg, and severed it entirely from the 
body. No sooner had the blood been tasted than the 
long dreaded attack took place; another and another 
shriek proclaimed a loss of limbs ; some were torn from 
the boat to which they vainly endeavored to cling; some, 
it was supposed, sank from fear alone; all were in 
dreadful peril. Mr. Smith, even now, when of all horri¬ 
ble deaths the most horrible seemed to await him, gave 
his orders with clearness and coolness; and to the ever¬ 
lasting honor of the poor departed crew be it known, 
they were obeyed; again the boat was righted, and 
again two men were in her. Incredible as it may ap¬ 
pear, still, however, it is true, that the voice of the officer 
was heard amidst the danger; and the survivors, actu¬ 
ally as before, clung to the gun-wale, and kept the boat 
upright. Mr. Smith himself held to the stern, and cheer¬ 
ed and applauded his men. The sharks had tasted the 
blood, and were not to be driven from their feast; in 
16 ' 


182 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


one short moment, when Mr. Smith ceased splashing, as 
he looked into the boat to watch the progress, a shark 
seized both legs, and bit them off just above the knees. 
Human nature was not strong enough to bear the im¬ 
mense pain without a groan; but Mr. Smith endeavored 
to conceal the misfortune; nature, true to herself resisted 
the endeavor, and the groan was deep and audible. 
The crew had long respected their gallant commander; 
they knew his worth and his courage:—on hearing him 
express his pain, and seeing him relinquish his hold to 
sink, two of the men grasped their dying officer, and 
placed him in the stern sheets. Even now, in almost in¬ 
supportable agony, that gallant fellow forgot his own 
sufferings, and thought only of rescuing the remaining 
few from the untimely grave which awaited them; he 
told them again of their only hope, deplored their peri¬ 
lous state, and concluded with these words: “if any of 
you survive this fatal night, and return to Jamaica, tell 
the admiral (Sir Lawrence Halstead) that I was, in 
search of the pirate when this lamentable occurrence 
took place, tell him I hope I have always done my duty, 
and that I —” Here the endeavor of some of the men 
to get into the boat gave her a heel on one side; the men 
who were supporting poor Smith relinquished him for a 
moment, and he rolled overboard and was drowned. 
His last bubbling cry was soon lost amidst the shrieks 
of his former companions ; he sank to rise no more. 

At eight o’clock in the evening, the Magpie was up¬ 
set ; it was calculated by the two survivors, that their 
companions had all died by nine. The sharks seemed 
satisfied for the moment, and they, with gallant hearts, 
resolved to profit by the precious time in order to save 
themselves; they righted the boat, and one getting over 
the bows, and the other over the stern, they found them¬ 
selves, although nearly exhausted, yet alive, and in com¬ 
parative security ; they began the work of baling, and 
soon lightened the boat sufficiently not to be easily up¬ 
set, when both set down to rest. The return of the 
sharks was a signal for their return to labor. The vora¬ 
cious monsters endeavored to upset the boat; they swam 


THE WRECKED SEAMEN. 


183 


by its side in seeming anxiety for their prey, but after 
waiting sometime, they separated: the two rescued sea¬ 
men found themselves free from their insatiable ene¬ 
mies, and, by the blessing of God, saved. Tired as they 
were, they continued their labor until the boat was 
nearly dry, when both lay down to rest, the one forward, 
and the other aft; so completely had fear operated on 
their minds, that they did not dare even to move, dread¬ 
ing that an incautious step might have capsized the boat. 
They soon, in spite of the horrors they had witnessed, 
fell into a sound sleep, and day had dawned before they 
awoke to horrible reflections, and apparently worse dan¬ 
gers. The sun rose clear and unclouded; the cool calm 
of the night was followed by the sultry calm of the morn¬ 
ing, and heat, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, seemed to set¬ 
tle on the unfortunate men, rescued by Providence and 
their own exertions from the jaws of a horrible death. 
They awoke and looked at each other; the very gaze of 
despair was appalling; far as the eye could reach, no 
object could be discerned ; the bright haze of the morn¬ 
ing added to the strong refraction of light; one smooth, 
interminable plain, one endless ocean, one cloudless sky 
and one burning sun, were all they had to gaze upon. 
The boat lay like the ark, in a world alone! They had 
no oar, no mast, no sail, nothing but the bare planks and 
themselves, without provisions or water, food or raiment. 
They lay upon the calm ocean, hopeless, friendless, and 
miserable. It was a time of intense anxiety, their eyes 
rested upon each other in silent pity, not unmixed with 
fear. Each knew the dreadful alternative to which na¬ 
ture would urge them. The cannibal was, already, in 
their looks, and fearful would have been the first attack, 
on either side, for they were both brave and stout men, 
and equal in strength and courage. 

It now being about half past six in the morning, the 
sun was beginning to prove its burning power, the sea 
was as smooth as a looking glass, and saving now and 
then, the slight cat’s paw of air, which ruffled the face 
of the water for a few yards, all was calm and hushed. 
In vain they strained their eyes, in vain they turned 


184 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


from side to side to escape the burning rays of the sun; 
they could not sleep, for now anxiety and fear kept both 
vigilant and on their guard; they dared not to court 
sleep, for that might have been the last of mortal repose. 
Once they nearly quarrelled, but, fortunately, the better 
feelings of humanity overcame the bitterness of despair. 
The foremost man had long complained of thirst, and 
had frequently dipped his hand into the water, and suck¬ 
ed the fluid; this was hastily done, for all the horrors 
of the night were still before them, and not unfrequently 
the sharp fin of a shark was seen not very far from the 
boat. In the midst of the excruciating torments of thirst, 
heightened by the salt water, and the irritable temper of 
the bowman, as he stamped his impatient feet against 
the bottom boards, and tore his hair with unfeeling in¬ 
difference, he suddenly stopped the expression of rage 
and called out—“ A sail!” 

Whilst they stood watching in silence the approach 
of the brig, which slowly made her way through the 
water, and at the very instant that they were assuring 
each other that they were seen, and that the vessel was 
purposely steered on the course she was keeping, to 
reach them, the whole fabric of hope was destroyed in a 
second; the brig kept away about three points, and be¬ 
gan to make more sail. Then was it an awful moment; 
their countenances saddened as they looked at each 
other; for in vain they hailed, in vain they threw their 
jackets in the air; it was evident they had never been 
seen, and that the brig was steering her proper course. 

The time was slipping away, and if once they got 
abaft the beam of the brig, every second would lessen 
the diance of being seen, besides the sea breeze might 
come down, and then she would be far away, and be¬ 
yond all hope in a quarter of an hour. Now was it, that 
the man who had been so loudly lamenting his fate, 
seemed suddenly inspired with fresh hope and courage ; 
he looked attentively at the brig, then at his companion, 
and said, “ By heaven, I’ll doit, or we are lost!” “Do 
what?” said the shipmate. “ Though,” said the first 
man, “ it is no trifle to do, after what we have seen and 


THE WRECKED SEAMEN. 


185 


known; yet I will try* for if she passes Us, what can we 
do 7 I tell you, Jack, I’ll swim to her; if I get safe to 
her, you are saved; if not, why I shall die without add¬ 
ing, perhaps murder, to my crimes:” “What! jump 
overboard, and leave me all alone!” replied his compa¬ 
nion; “look, look at that shark, which has followed us 
all night; why, it is only waiting for you to get into the 
water to swallow you, as it did perhaps half of our mess¬ 
mates ; no, no, wait, do wait; perhaps another vessel 
may come; besides, I cannot swim half the distance, and 
I should be afraid to remain behind; think, Tom, only 
think of the sharks and of last night.” 

He jumped overboard with as much calmness as if he 
Was bathing in security. No sooner had he begun to strike 
out in the direction he intended, than his companion 
turned towards the sharks. The first had disappeared, 
and it was evident they had heard the splash, and would 
soon follow their prey. It is hard to say, who suffered 
the most anxiety. The one left .in the boat cheered his 
companion, looked at the brig, and kept waving his 
jacket, then turned to watch the sharks; his horror may 
be imagined when he saw three of these terrific monsters 
swim past the boat, exactly in the direction of his com¬ 
panion ; he splashed his jacket in the water to scare 
them away, but they seemed quite aware of the impo- 
tency of the attack, and lazily pursued their course. 
The man swam well and strongly. There was no doubt 
he would pass within hail of the brig, provided the 
sharks did not interfere, and he, knowing that they 
would not be long in following him, kept kicking in the 
water and splashing, as he swam. There is no fish more 
cowardly, and yet more desperately savage than a shark. 
I have seen one harpooned twice, with a hook in his 
jaws, and come again to a fresh bait; yet will they suffer 
themselves to be scared by the smallest noise, and hard¬ 
ly ever take their prey without it is quite still. Gene¬ 
rally speaking, any place surrounded by rocks where the 
surf breaks, although there may be no passage for a 
ship, will be secure from sharks. It was not until a 
great distance had been accomplished, that the swimmer 
16* 


186 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


became apprized of his danger, and saw by his side one 
of the terrific creatures ; still, however, he bravely swaih 
and kicked; his mind was made up for the worst, and he 
had little hope of success. In the mean time the breeze 
had gradually freshened, and the brig passed with 
greater velocity through the water; every stitch of can¬ 
vas was spread. To the poor swimmer, the sails seemed 
bursting with the breeze, and as he used his utmost en¬ 
deavor to propel himself so as to cut off the vessel, the 
spray appeared to dash from the bow and the brig to fly 
through the sea. He was now close enough to hope his 
voice might be heard; but he hailed and hailed in vain, 
not a soul was to be seen on deck; the man who steered, 
was too intent upon his avocation to listen to the call of 
mercy. The brig passed, and the swimmer was every 
second getting further in the distance, every hope was 
gone, not a ray of that bright divinity remained, the fa¬ 
tigue had nearly exhausted him, and the sharks only 
waited for the first quiet moment to swallow their vic¬ 
tim. It was in vain, he thought of returning towards 
the boat, for he never could have reached her, and his 
companion had no means of assisting him. In the act 
of offering up his last prayer, ere he made up his mind 
to float and be eaten, he saw a man looking over the 
quarter of the brig ; he raised both his hands, he jumped 
himself up in the water, and by the singularity of his 
motions, fortunately attracted notice. A telescope soon 
made clear the object; the brig was hove to, a boat sent, 
and the man saved. The attention of the crew was 
then awakened to the Magpie’s boat; she was soon 
alongside, and thus, through the bold exertions of as gal¬ 
lant a fellow as ever breathed, both were rescued from 
their perilous situation. 





THE LOSS OF THE PEGGY. 


On the 28 th of September, 1785, the Peggy, command¬ 
ed by captain Knight, sailed from the harbor of Water¬ 
ford, Ireland, for the port of New York, in America. 

Here it is necessary to observe, that the Peggy was a 
large unwieldy Dutch-built ship, about eight hundred 
tons burden, and had formerly been in the Norway and 
timber trade, for which, indeed, she seemed, from her 
immense bulk, well calculated. There being no freight 
in readiness for America, we were undejr the necessity 
of taking in ballast: which consisted of coarse gravel 
and sand, with about fifty casks of stores, fresh stock, 
and vegetables, sufficient to last during the voyage; 
having plenty of room, and having been most abun¬ 
dantly supplied by the hospitable neighborhood, of which 
we were about to take our leave. 

We weighed anchor, and with the assistance of a rapid 
tide and pleasant breeze, soon gained a tolerable offing: 
we continued under easy sail the remaining part of the 
day, and towards sunset, lost sight of land. 

September 29th, made the old head of Kingsale; the 
weather continued favorable, we shortly came within 
sight of cape Clear, from whence we took our departure 
from the coast of Ireland. 

Nothing material occurred for several days, during 
which time we traversed a vast space of the Western 
ocean. 

October 12th, the weather now became hazy and 
squally ; all hands turned up to reef top-sails, and strike 
top-gallant-yards. Towards night, the squalls were 
more frequent, indicating an approaching gale;—we ac¬ 
cordingly clued, reefed top-sails, and struck top-gallant- 
masts ; anddiaving made all snug aloft, the ship wea¬ 
thered the night very steadily. 

On the 13th, the crew were employed in setting up the 


188 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


rigging, and occasionally pumping, the ship having 
made much water, during the night. The gale increas¬ 
ing as the day advanced, occasioned the vessel to make 
heavy rolls, by which an accident happened, which was 
near doing much injury to the captain’s cabin. A pun¬ 
cheon of rum, which was lashed oh the larboard side of 
the cabin, broke loose, a sudden jerk having drawn 
asunder the cleets to which it was fastened. By its ve¬ 
locity, it stove in the state-rooms, and broke several uten¬ 
sils of the cabin furniture. The writer of this, with 
much difficulty, escaped with whole limbs: but not al¬ 
together unhurt, receiving a painful bruise on the right 
foot: having, however, escaped from the cabin, the peo¬ 
ple on deck were given to understand that the rum was 
broken loose. The word rum soon attracted the sailors’ 
attention, and this cask being the ship’s only stock, they 
were not tardy (as may be supposed) in rendering their 
assistance to double lash, what they anticipated—the 
delight of frequently splicing the mainbrace therewith, 
during their voyage. , 

On the 14th, the weather became moderate, and the 
crew were employed in making good the stowage of the 
stores in the hold, which had given way during the 
night; shaking reefs out of the top-sails, getting up the 
top-gallant masts and yards, and rigging out studding- 
sails. All hands being now called to dinner, a bustle 
and confused noise took place on deck. The captain 
(who was below) sent the writer of this, to discover the 
cause thereof, but before he could explain, a voice was 
crying out in a most piteous and vociferous tone. The 
captain and chief mate jumped on deck, and found the 
crew had got the cook laid on the windlass, and were 
giving him a most severe cobbing with a flat piece of his 
own firewood. As soon as the captain had reached for¬ 
ward, he was much exasperated with them for their pre¬ 
cipitate conduct, in punishing without his knowledge 
and permission ; and having prohibited such proceedings 
in future cases, he inquired the cause of their grievance. 
The cook, it seems, having been serving'out fresh water 
to dress vegetables for all hands, had inadvertently used 


THE LOSS OF THE PEGGY. 


189 


it for some other purpose, and boiled the greens in a cop¬ 
per of salt water, which rendered them so intolerably 
tough, that they were not fit for use; consequently the 
sailors had not their expected garnish, and a general 
murmur taking place, the above punishment was in¬ 
flicted. 

A steady breeze ensued, all sails filled and the ship 
. made way, with a lofty and majestic air: and at every 
plunge of her bows, which were truly Dutch-built, rose a 
foam of no small appearance. 

During four days, the weather continued favorable, 
which flattered the seamen with a speedy sight of land. 

On the 19th, we encountered a very violent gale, with 
an unusual heavy sea;—the ship worked greatly, and 
took in much water through her seams ; the pumps were 
kept frequently going. At mid-day, while the crew 
were at dinner, a tremendous sea struck the ship right 
aft, which stove in the cabin windows, upset the whole 
of the dinner, and nearly drowned the captain, mate, and 
myself, who was at that time holding a dish on the ta¬ 
ble, while the captain was busily employed in carving a 
fine goose, which, much to our discomfiture, was en¬ 
tirely drenched by the salt-water. Some of the coops 
were washed from the quarter-deck, and several of the 
poultry destroyed. 

In consequence of the vessel’s shipping so great a quan¬ 
tity of water, the pumps were doubly manned, and soon 
gained on her. The gale had not in the least abated 
during the night. The well was plumbed, and there 
was found to be a sudden and alarming increase of wa¬ 
ter. The carpenter was immediately ordered to exa¬ 
mine the ship below, in order to find the cause of the 
vessel’s making so much water. His report was, she 
being a very old vessel, her seams had considerably open¬ 
ed by her laboring so much ; therefore, could devise no 
means, at present, to prevent the evil. He also reported 
the mizzen-mast to be in great danger. 

The heel of the mizzen-mast being stepped between 
decks, (a very unusual case, bpt probably it was placed 
there in order to make more room for stowage in the 


190 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


after-hold,) was likely to work from its step, and thereby 
might do considerable damage to the ship. 

The captain now held a consultation with the officers, 
when it was deemed expedient to cut the mast away, 
without delay: this was accordingly put into execution 
the following morning, as soon as the day made its ap- 
' pearance. The necessary preparations having been 
made, the carpenter began hewing at the mast, and 
quickly made a deep wound. Some of the crew were 
stationed ready to cut away the stays and lanyards, 
whilst the remaining part were anxiously watching the 
momentary crash which was to ensue; the word being 
given to cut away the weather-lanyards, as the ship 
gave a lee-lurch, the whole of the wreck of the mast 
plunged, without further injury, into the ocean. 

The weather still threatening a continuance, our prin¬ 
cipal employ was at the pumps, which were kept con¬ 
tinually going. The sea had now risen to an alarming 
height, and frequently struck the vessel with great vio¬ 
lence. Towards the afternoon, part of the starboard 
bulwark was carried away by the shock of a heavy sea, 
which made the ship broachto, and before she could 
answer her helm again, a sea broke through the fore¬ 
chains, and swept away the caboose and all its utensils 
from the deck : fortunately for the cook, he was assist¬ 
ing at the pumps at the time, or he inevitably must 
have shared the same fate as his galley. 

Notwithstanding the exertions of the crew, the water 
gained fast, and made its way into the hold, which 
washed a great quantity of the ballast through the 
timber-holes into the hull, by which the suckers of the 
pumps were much damaged, and they thereby frequently 
choked. By such delays the leaks increased rapidly. 
We were under the necessity of repeatedly hoisting the 
pumps on deck, to apply different means which were 
devised to keep the sand from entering, but all our ef¬ 
forts proved ineffectual, and the pumps were deemed of 
no further utility. There was now no time to be lost; 
accordingly it was agreed that the allowance of fresh 
water should be lessened to a pint a man; the casks 


THE LOSS OF THE PEGGY. 


191 


were immediately hoisted from the hold, and lashed be¬ 
tween decks. As the water was started from two of 
them, they were sawed in two, and formed into buckets, 
there being no other casks on board fit for that purpose; 
the whips were soon applied, and the hands began bal¬ 
ing at the fore and after hatchways, which continued 
without intermission the whole of the night, each man 
being suffered to take one hour’s rest, in rotation. 

The morning of the 22d, presented to our view a most 
dreary aspect,—a dismal horizon encircling—not the 
least appearance of the gale abating—on the contrary, it 
seemed to come with redoubled vigor—the ballast wash¬ 
ing from side to side of the ship at each roll, and scarce 
a prospect of freeing her. Notwithstanding these ca¬ 
lamities, the crew did not relax their efforts. The main¬ 
hatchway was opened, and fresh buckets went to work; 
the captain and mate alternately relieving each other at 
the helm. The writer’s station was to supply the crew 
with grog, which was plentifully served to them every 
two hours. By the motion of the ship, the buckets struck 
against the combings of the hatchways with great vio¬ 
lence, and in casting them into the hold to fill, they fre¬ 
quently struck on the floating pieces of timber which 
were generally used as chocks in stowing the hold. By 
such accidents, the buckets were repeatedly stove, and 
we were under the necessity of cutting more of the wa¬ 
ter casks to supply their place. Starting the fresh water 
overboard was reluctantly done, particularly as we now 
felt the loss of the caboose, and were under the necessity 
of eating the meat raw, which occasioned us to be very 
thirsty. Night coming on, the crew were not allowed 
to go below to sleep; each man, when it came to his 
turn, stretched himself on the deck. 

October 23. Notwithstanding the great quantity of 
water baled from the vessel, she gained so considerably, 
that she had visibly settled much deeper in the water. 
All hands were now called aft, in order to consult on the 
best measures. It was now unanimously resolved to 
make for the island of Bermuda, it being the nearest 
land. Accordingly we bore away for it, but had not 


192 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


sailed many leagues before we found that the great 
quantity of water in the vessel had impeded her steer¬ 
age so much that she could scarcely answer her helm; 
and making a very heavy lurch, the ballast shifted, 
which gave her a great lift to the starboard, and render¬ 
ed it very difficult to keep a firm footing on deck- The 
anchors which were stowed on the larboard bow were 
ordered to be cut away, and the cables, which were on 
the orlop deck, to be hove overboard in order to right her; 
but all this had a very trifling effect, for the ship was 
now become quite a log. 

The crew were still employed in bailing; one of whom, 
in preventing a bucket from being stove against the 
combings, let go his hold, and fell down the hatchway; 
with great difficulty he escaped being drowned or dash¬ 
ed against the ship’s sides. Having got into a bucket 
which was instantly lowered, he was providentially 
hoisted on deck without any injury. 

During the night, the weather became more moderate, 
and on the following morning, (October 25,) the gale 
had entirely subsided, but left a very heavy swell. Two 
large whales approached close to the ship. They sport¬ 
ed around the vessel the whole of the day, and after 
dusk, disappeared. 

Having now no further use of the helm, it was lashed 
down, and the captain and mate took their spell at the 
buckets. My assistance having been also required, a 
boy of less strength, whose previous business was to at¬ 
tend the cook, now took my former station of serving 
the crew with refreshments. This lad had not long 
filled his new situation of drawing out rum from the 
cask, before he was tempted to taste it, which hav¬ 
ing repeatedly done, he soon became intoxicated, and 
was missed on deck for some time. I was sent to look 
for him. The spigot I perceived out of the cask, and 
the liquor running about, but the boy I could not see for 
some time; however looking down the lazeretto, (the 
trap-door of which was lying open,) I found him fast 
asleep. He had luckily fallen on some sails which were 
stowed there, or he must have perished. 


LOSS OF THE PEGGY. 


193 


On the 26th and 27th of October, the weather con¬ 
tinued quite clear, with light baffling winds. A man 
was constantly kept aloft to look out for a sail. The 
rest of the crew were employed at the whips. 

On the 28th, the weather began to lower, and appeared 
inclined for rain. This gave some uneasiness, being ap¬ 
prehensive of a gale. The captain therefore directed the 
carpenter to overhaul the long-boat, caulk her, and raise 
a streak, which orders were immediately complied with ; 
but when he went to his locker for oakum, he found it 
plundered of nearly the whole of his stock—all hands 
were therefore set to picking, by which means he was 
soon supplied. 

It was totally clear on the 29th, with a fresh breeze, 
but the ship heeled so much that her gunwale at times 
was under water, and the crew could scarcely stand on 
deck. All hands were now ordered to assemble aft, 
when the captain in a short address, pointed out the 
most probable manner by which they could be saved. 
All agreed in opinion with him, and it was resolved that 
the long-boat should be hoisted out as speedily as possi¬ 
ble, and such necessaries as could be conveniently stow¬ 
ed, to be placed in her. Determined no longer to labor 
at the buckets, the vessel, which could not remain above 
water many hours after we had ceased bailing, was now 
abandoned to her fate. 

I now began to reflect on the small chance we had of 
being saved—twenty-two people in an open boat—up¬ 
wards of three hundred miles from the land, in a bois¬ 
terous climate, and the whole crew worn out with fa¬ 
tigue ! The palms of the crew’s hands were already so 
flayed it could not be expected that they could do much 
execution with the oars; while thus reflecting on our 
perilous situation, one of our oldest seamen, who at this 
moment was standing near me, turned his head aside to 
wipe away a tear; 1 could not refrain from sympathiz¬ 
ing with him, my heart was already full; the captain 
perceiving my despondency bade me be of good cheer, 
and called me a young lubber. 

The boat having been hoisted out, and such neeessa- 
17 


194 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

* 

ries placed in her as were deemed requisite, oiie of the 
hands was sent aloft to lash the colors downwards to the 
main-top-mast shrouds; which having done, he placed 
himself on the crosstrees, to look around him, and al¬ 
most instantly hallooed out,—“A sail.” It would be 
impossible to describe the ecstatic emotions of the crew : 
every man was aloft, in order to be satisfied; though a 
minute before, not one of the crew was able to stand 
upright. • 

The sail was on our weather-bow, bearing right down 
on us with a smart breeze. She soon perceived us, but 
hauled her wind several times, in order to examine our 
ship. As she approached nearer she clearly perceived 
our calamitous situation, and hastened to our relief. 

She proved to be a Philadelphia schooner, bound to cape 
Francois, in St. Domingo. The captain took us all on 
board in the most humane and friendly manner, and af¬ 
ter casting our boat adrift, proceeded on his voyage. 
When we perceived our ship from the vessel on which 
we were now happily on board, her appearance was 
truly deplorable. 

The captain of the schooner congratulated us on our 
fortunate escape, and expressed his surprise that the 
ship should remain so long on her beam ends, in such a 
heavy sea, without capsizing. We soon began to dis¬ 
tance the wreck, by this time very low in the water, and 
shortly after lost sight of her. 

The evening began to approach fast, when a man 
loosing the main-top-sail, descried a sail directly in the 
same course on our quarter. We made sail for her, and 
soon came within hail of her. She proved to be a brig 
from Glasgow, bound to Antigua. It was now deter¬ 
mined, between the captains, that half of our people 
should remain in the schooner, and the captain, mate, 
eight of the crew, and myself, should get on board the 
brig. On our arrival at Antigua we met with much 
kindness and humanity. 


LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INDIAMAN. 


The Halsewell East Indiaman, of seven hundred and 
fifty-eight tons burthen, Richard Pierce, Esq. commander, 
having been taken up by the Directors to make her third 
voyage to coast and bay, fell down to Gravesend the 
16th of November, 1785, and there completed her lad¬ 
ing. Having taken the ladies and other passengers on 
board at the Hope, she sailed through the Downs on 
Sunday, January the 1st, 1786, and the next morning, 
being abreast of Dunnose, it fell calm. 

The ship was one of the finest in the service, and sup¬ 
posed to be in the most perfect condition for her voyage; 
and the commander a man of distinguished ability and 
exemplary character. His officers possessed unques¬ 
tionable knowledge in their profession; the crew, com¬ 
posed of the best seatnen that could be collected, was as 
numerous as the establishment admits. The vessel like¬ 
wise contained a considerable body of soldiers, destined 
to recruit the forces of the company in Asia. 

The passengers were Miss Eliza Pierce, and Miss 
Mary Anne Pierce, daughters of the commander; Miss 
Amy Paul, and Miss Mary Paul, daughters of Mr. Paul, 
of Somersetshire, and relations of captain Pierce ; Miss 
Elizabeth Blackburne, daughter of captain B. likewise 
in the service of the East India company : Miss Mary 
Haggard, sister to an officer on the Madras establish¬ 
ment ; Miss Ann Mansell, a native of Madras, but of 
European parents, who had received her education in 
England; and John George Schutz, Esq. returning to 
Asia, where he had long resided, to collect a part of his 
fortune which he had left behind. 

On Monday, the 2d of January, at three P. M. a 
breeze springing up from the south, they ran in shore to 
land the pilot. The weather coming on very thick in 
the evening, and the wind baffling, at nine they were 
obliged to anchor in eighteen fathoms water. They 


196 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


furled their top-sails, but were unable to furl their courses, 
the snow falling thick and freezing as it fell. 

Tuesday, the 3d, at four o’clock A. M. a violent gale 
came on from E. N. E. and the ship driving, they were 
obliged to cut their cables and run out to sea. At noon, 
they spoke with a brig to Dublin, and having put their 
pilot on board of her, bore down channel immediately. 
At eight in the evening, the wind freshening, and coming 
to the southward, they reefed such sails as were judged 
necessary. At ten, it blew a violent gale at south, and 
they were obliged to carry a press of sail to keep the 
ship off the shore. In this situation, the hause-plugs, 
which, according to a recent improvement, were put in¬ 
side, were washed in, and the hause-bags washed away, 
in consequence of which they shipped a great quantity 
of water on the gun-deck. 

Upon sounding the well, they found that the vessel 
had sprung a leak, and had five feet of water in her 
hold ; they clued up the main top-sail, hauled up the 
main-sail, and immediately attempted to furl both, but 
failed in the attempt. All the pumps were set to work, 
on the discovery of the leak. 

Wednesday the 4th, at two A. M. they endeavored to 
wear the ship, but without success. The mizzen-mast 
was instantly cut away, and a second attempt made to 
wear, which succeeded no better than the former. The 
ship having now seven feet of water in her hold, and the 
leak gaining fast on the pumps, it was thought expedi¬ 
ent for the preservation of the ship, which appeared to 
be in immediate danger of foundering, to cut away the 
main-mast. In its fall, Jonathan Moreton, coxswain, 
and four men, were carried overboard by the wreck and 
drowned. By eight o’clock, the wreck was cleared, and 
the ship got before the wind. In this position she was 
kept about two hours, during which the pumps reduced 
the water in the hold two feet. 

At ten in the morning the wind abated considerably, 
and the ship labored extremely, rolled the fore top-mast 
over on the larboard side, which, in the fall, tore the fore¬ 
sail to pieces. At eleven, the wind came to the west- 


LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INDIAMAN. 


197 


ward, and the weather clearing up, the Berry-Head was 
distinguished, at the distance of four or five leagues. 
Having erected a jury main-mast, and set a top-gallant- 
sail for a main-sail, they bore up for Portsmouth, and 
employed the remainder of the day in getting up a jury 
mizzen-mast. 

On Thursday the 5th, at two in the morning, the wind 
came to the southward, blew fresh, and the weather 
was very thick. At noon, Portland was seen, bearing 
north by east, distant about two or three leagues. At 
eight at night, it blew a strong gale at south; the Port¬ 
land lights were seen bearing north-west, distant four or 
five leauges, when they wore ship and got her head to 
the westward. Finding they lost ground on that tack, 
they wore her again, and kept stretching to the eastward, 
in the hope of weathering Peverel Point, in which case 
they intended to have anchored in Studland bay. At 
eleven, they saw St. Alban’s Head, a mile and a half to 
the leeward, upon which they took in sail immediately, 
and let go the small bower anchor, which brought up 
the ship at a whole cable, and she rode for about an hour, 
and then drove. They now let go the sheet anchor, and 
wore away a whole cable ; the ship rode about two hours 
longer when she drove again. 

In this situation the captain sent for Mr. Henry Meri- 
ton, the chief officer, and asked his opinion concerning 
the probability of saving their lives. He replied with 
equal candor and calmness, that he apprehended there 
was very little hope, as they were then driving fast on 
shore, and might expect every moment to strike. It 
was agreed that the boats could not then be of any use, 
but it was proposed that the officers should be confiden¬ 
tially requested, in case an opportunity presented itself, 
of making it serviceable, to reserve the long boat for the 
ladies and themselves, and this precaution was accord¬ 
ingly taken. 

About two, in the morning of Friday the 6th, the ship 
still driving, and approaching the shore very fast, the 
same officer again went into the cuddy where the cap¬ 
tain then was. Captain Pierce expressed extreme anxi- 

17# 


198 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ety for the preservation of his beloved daughters, and 
earnestly asked Mr. Meriton, if he could devise any 
means of saving them. The latter expressed his fears 
that it would be impossible, adding, that their only 
chance would be to wait for the morning, upon which 
the captain lifted up his hands in silent distress. 

At this moment the ship struck with such violence, as 
to dash the heads of those who were standing in the 
cuddy against the deck above them, and the fatal blow 
was accompanied by a shriek of horror, which burst at 
the same instant from every quarter of the ship. 

The seamen, many of whom had been remarkably in¬ 
attentive and remiss in their duty during a great part of 
the storm, and had actually skulked into their hammocks, 
leaving the working of the pump, and the other labors 
required by their situation, to the officers, roused to a 
sense of their danger, now poured upon the deck, to 
which the utmost endeavors of their officers could not 
keep them while their assistance might have been use¬ 
ful. But it was now too late; the ship continued to 
beat upon the rocks, and soon bilged, falling with her 
broadside towards the shore. When the ship struck, 
several of the men caught hold of the ensign staff, under 
the apprehension of her going to pieces immediately. 

At this critical juncture, Mr. Meriton offered his un- 
happy companions the best advice that possibly could 
be given. He recommended that they should all repair 
to that side of the ship which lay lowest on the rocks, 
and take the opportunities that might then present them¬ 
selves of escaping singly to the shore. He then return¬ 
ed to the round-house, where all the passengers and 
most of the officers were assembled. The latter were 
employed in affording consolation to the unfortunate 
ladies, and with unparalleled magnanimity, suffering 
their compassion for the amiable companions of their own 
danger, and the dread of almost inevitable destruction. 
At this moment what must have been the feelings of a 
father—of such a father as captain Pierce ? 

The ship had struck on the rocks near Seacombe, on 
the island of Purbeck, between Peverel-point and St. 


LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INDIAMAN. 199 

Alban’s Head. On this part of the shore the cliff is of 
immense height, and rises almost perpendicularly. In 
this particular spot the cliff is excavated at the base, 
presenting a cavern ten or twelve yards in depth, and 
equal in breadth to the length of a large ship. The sides 
of the cavern are so nearly upright as to be extremely 
difficult of access, and the bottom of it is strewed with 
sharp and uneven rocks which appear to have been rent 
from above by some convulsion of nature. It was at 
the mouth of this cavern that the unfortunate vessel lay 
stretched almost from side to side, and presented her 
broadside to the horrid chasm. But, at the time the 
ship struck it was too dark to discover the extent of their 
danger, and the extreme horror of their situation. 

The number in the round-house was now increased 
to nearly fifty, by the admission of three black women 
and two soldier’s wives, with the husband of one of the 
'atter, though the sailors, who had demanded entrance 
to get a light, had been opposed and kept out by %he 
officers. Captain Pierce was seated on a chair, or some 
other movable, between his two daughters, whom he 
pressed alternately to his affectionate bosom. The rest 
of the melancholy assembly were seated on the deck, 
which was strewed with musical instruments, and the 
wreck of furniture, boxes, and packages. 

Here Mr. Meriton, after having lighted several wax 
candles, and all the glass lanthorns he could find, like¬ 
wise took his seat, intending to wait till daylight, in the 
hope that it would afford him an opportunity of effecting 
his own escape, and also rendering assistance to the 
partners of his danger. But, observing that the ladies 
appeared parched and exhausted, he fetched a basket of 
oranges from some part of the round-house, with which 
he prevailed on some of them to refresh themselves. 

On his return he perceived a considerable alteration 
in the appearance of the ship. The sides were visibly 
giving way, the deck seemed to heave, and he discovered 
other evident symptoms that she could not hold together 
much longer. Attempting to go forward to look out, he 
instantly perceived that the ship had separated in the 


200 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


middle and that the fore-part had changed its position, 
and lay rather farther out towards the sea. In this 
emergency he determined to seize the present moment, 
as the next might have r been charged with his fate, and 
to follow the example of the crew and the soldiers, who 
were leaving the ship in numbers, and making their way 
to a shore, with the horrors of which they were yet un¬ 
acquainted. 

To favor their escape an attempt had been made to 
lay the ensign-staff from the ship’s side to the rocks, but 
without success, for it snapped to pieces before it reached 
them. By the light of a lanthorn, however, Mr. Meri- 
ton discovered a spar, which appeared to be laid from 
the ship’s side to the rocks, and upon which he deter¬ 
mined to attempt his escape. He accordingly lay down 
upon it, and thrust himself forward, but soon found that 
the spar had no communication with the rock. He 
reached the end and then slipped off, receiving a vio¬ 
lent contusion in his fall. Before he could recover his 
legs, he was washed off by the surge, in which he 
supported himself by swimming till the returning wave 
dashed him against the back of the cavern. Here he 
lay hold of a small projection of the rock, but was so be¬ 
numbed that he was on the point of quitting it, when a 
seaman, who had already gained a footing, extended his 
hand and assisted him till he could secure himself on a 
little shelf of the rock, from which he clambered still 
higher till he was out of the reach of the surf. 

Mr. Rogers, the third mate, remained with the captain 
and the ladies nearly twenty minutes after Mr. Meriton 
had left the ship. The latter had not long quitted the 
round house, before the captain inquired what was be¬ 
come of him, and Mr. Rogers replied, that he had gone 
upon deck to see what could be done. A heavy sea 
soon afterwards broke over the ship, upon which the 
ladies expressed great concern at the apprehension of his 
loss. Mr. Rogers proposed to go and call him, but this 
they opposed, fearful lest he might share the same fate. 

The sea now broke in at the fore part of the ship, and 
reached as far as the main-mast. Captain Pierce and 
















Loss of the rlulseweU. Luge 

















































































































































































































LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INDIAMAN. 201 

Mr. Rogers then went together, with a lamp, to the stem 
gallery, where, after viewing the rocks, the captain ask¬ 
ed Mr. Rogers if he thought there was any possibility 
of saving the girls. He replied, he feared not; for they 
could discover nothing but the black surface of the per¬ 
pendicular rock, and not the cavern which afforded shel¬ 
ter to those who had escaped. They then returned to 
the round house, where captain Pierce again seated him¬ 
self between his two daughters, struggling to suppress 
the parental tear which then started into his eye. 

The sea continuing to break in very fast, Mr. Rogers, 
Mr. Schutz, and Mr. M’Manus, a midshipman, with a 
view to attempt their escape, made their way to the 
poop. They had scarcely reached it, when a heavy sea 
breaking'over the wreck, the round house gave way, 
and they heard the ladies shriek at intervals, as if the 
water had reached them; the noise of the sea at other 
times drowned their voices. 

Mr. Brimer had followed Mr. Rogers to the poop, 
where, on the coming of the fatal sea, they jointly seiz¬ 
ed a hen-coop, and the same wave which whelmed 
those who remained below in destruction, carried him 
and his companion to the rock, on which they were 
dashed with great violence, and miserably bruised. 

On this rock were twenty-seven men; but it was low 
water, and being convinced that, upon the flowing of the 
tide, they must all be washed off, many endeavored to 
get to the back or sides of the cavern beyond the reach 
of the returning sea. Excepting Mr. Rogers and Mr. 
Brimer, scarcely more than six succeeded in this attempt. 
Of the remainder, some experienced the fate they sought 
to avoid, others perished in endeavoring to get into the 
cavern. 

Mr. Rogers and Mr. Brimer, however, having reached 
the cavern, climbed up the rock, on the narrow shelves 
of which they fixed themselves. The former got so 
near to his friend, Mr. Meriton, a& to exchang3 congratu¬ 
lations with him; but between these gentlemen, there 
were about twenty men, none of whom could stir 
but at the most imminent hazard of his life. When 


202 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


Mr. Rogers reached this station, his strength was so 
nearly exhausted, that had the struggle continued a few 
minutes longer he must inevitably have perished. 

They soon found that though many who had reached 
the rocks below, had perished in attempting to ascend, 
yet that a considerable number of the crew, seamen, sol¬ 
diers, and some of the inferior officers, were in the same 
situation with themselves. What that situation was, 
they had still to learn. They had escaped immediate 
death ; but they were yet to encounter a thousand hard¬ 
ships for the precarious chance of escape. Some part of 
the ship was still discernible, and they cheered them¬ 
selves in this dreary situation, with the hope that it 
would hold together till day break. Amidst their own 
misfortunes, the sufferings of the females filled their minds 
with the acutest anguish ; every returning sea increased 
their apprehensions for the safety of their amiable and 
helpless companions. 

But, alas ! too soon were these apprehensions realized. 
A few minutes after Mr. Rogers had gained the rock, 
a general shriek, in which the voice of female distress 
was lamentably distinguishable, announced the dreadful 
catastrophe! In a few moments, all was hushed, ex¬ 
cepting the warring winds and the dashing waves. The 
wreck was whelmed in the bosom of the deep, and not 
an atom of it was ever discovered. Thus perished the 
Halsewell, and with her, worth, honor, skill, beauty, 
and accomplishments ! 

This stroke was a dreadful aggravation of wo to the 
trembling and scarcely half-saved wretches, who were 
clinging about the sides of the horrid cavern. They felt 
for themselves, but they wept for wives, parents, fathers, 
brothers, sisters,—perhaps lovers !—all cut off from their 
dearest, fondest hopes ! 

Their feelings were not less agonized by the subse¬ 
quent events of that ill-fated night. Many who had 
gained the precarious stations on the rocks, exhausted 
with fatigue, weakened by bruises, and benumbed with 
cold, quitted their hold, and falling headlong, either upon 
the rocks below, or into the surf, perished beneath the 


LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INDIAMAN. 203 

feet of their wretched associates, and by their dying 
groans and loud acclamations, awakened terrific appre¬ 
hensions of a similar fate in the survivors. 

At length, after three hours of the keenest misery, the 
day broke on them, but, far from bringing with it the 
expected relief, it served only to discover to them all the 
horrors of their situation. They were convinced, that 
had the country been alarmed by the guns of distress, 
which they continued to fire several hours before the 
ship struck, but, which, from the violence of the storm, 
were unheard, they could neither be observed by the 
people above, as they were completely ingulphed in the 
cavern, and overhung by the cliff; nor was any part of 
the wreck remaining to indicate their probable place of 
refuge. Below, no boat could live to search them out, 
and had it been possible to acquaint those who were 
willing to assist them, with their exact situation, they 
were at a loss to conceive how any ropes could be con¬ 
veyed into the cavern to facilitate their escape. 

The only method, that afforded any prospect of suc¬ 
cess, was to creep along the side to its outer extremity, 
to turn the corner on a ledge scarcely as broad as a man’s 
hand, and to climb up the almost perpendicular precipi¬ 
ces, nearly two hundred feet in height. In this despe¬ 
rate attempt, some succeeded, while others, trembling 
with terror, and exhausted with bodily and mental fa¬ 
tigue, lost their precarious footing, and perished. 

The first men who gained the summit of the cliff were 
the cook, and James Thompson, a quarter-master. By 
their individual exertions they reached the top, and in¬ 
stantly hastened to the nearest house, to make known 
the situation of their fellow-sufferers. Eastington, the 
habitation of Mr. Garland, steward, or agent, to the pro¬ 
prietors of the Purbeck quarries, was the house at which 
they first arrived. That gentleman immediately assem¬ 
bled the workmen under his direction, and with the most 
zealous humanity exerted every effort for the preserva¬ 
tion of the surviving part of the crew of the unfortunate 
ship. 

Mr. Meriton had, by this time, almost reached the 




Remarkable shipwrecks. 


204 

edge of the precipice. A soldier, who preceded him, 
stood upon a small projecting rock, or stone, and upon 
the same stone Mr. Meriton had fastened his hands to 
assist his progress. Just at this moment the quarrymen 
arrived, and seeing a man so nearly within their reach 
they dropped a rope, of which he immediately laid hold. 
By a vigorous effort to avail himself of the advantage, 
he loosened the stone, which giving way, Mr. Meviton 
must have been precipitated to the bottom, had not a 
rope been lowered to him at the instant, which he seized, 
while in the act of falling, and was safely drawn to the 
summit. 

The fate of Mr. Brimer was peculiarly severe. He 
had been married only nine days before the ship sailed, 
to the daughter of Captain Norman, of the Royal Navy, 
came on shore, as it has been observed, with Mr. Rogers, 
and, like him, got up the side of the cavern. Here he 
remained till the morning, when he crawled out; a rope 
was thrown him, but he was either so benumbed with 
the cold as to fasten it about him improperly, or so agi¬ 
tated as to neglect to fasten it at all. Whatever was the 
cause, the effect proved fatal; at the moment of his sup¬ 
posed preservation he fell from his stand, and was unfor¬ 
tunately dashed to pieces, in sight of those who could 
only lament the deplorable fate of an amiable man and 
skilful officer. 

The method of affording help was remarkable, and 
does honor to the humanity and intrepidity of the quar¬ 
rymen. The distance from the top of the rock to the 
cavern, over which it projected, was at least one hundred 
feet: ten of these formed a declivity to the edge, and the 
remainder was perpendicular. On the very brink of this 
precipice stood two daring fellows, with a rope tied round 
them, and fastened above to a strong iron bar fixed into 
the ground. Behind these, in like manner, stood others, 
two and two. A strong rope, likewise properly secured, 
passed between them, by which they might hold, and 
support themselves from falling. Another rope, with a 
noose ready fixed, was then let down below the cavern, 
and the wind blowing hard, it was sometimes forced 


LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL EAST INHUMAN. 205 

under the projecting rock, so that the sufferers could 
reach it without crawling to the edge. Whoever laid 
hold of it, put the noose round his waist, and was drawn 
up with the utmost care and caution by their intrepid 
deliverers. 

In this attempt, however, many shared the fate of the 
unfortunate Mr. Brimer. Unable, through cold, pertur¬ 
bation of mind, weakness, or the inconvenience of the 
stations they occupied, to avail themselves of the succor 
that was offered them, they were precipitated from the 
stupendous cliff, and either dashed to pieces on the rocks, 
or falling into the surge, perished in the waves. 

Among these unhappy sufferers, the death of a drum¬ 
mer was attended with circumstances of peculiar dis¬ 
tress. Being either washed off the rocks “by the sea, or 
falling into the surf, he was carried by the returning 
waves beyond the breakers. His utmost efforts to regain 
them were ineffectual, he was drawn further out to sea, 
and being a remarkably good swimmer, continued to 
struggle with the waves, in the view of his commiserat¬ 
ing companions, till his strength was exhausted, and he 
sank,—to rise no more ! 

It was late in the day when all the survivors were 
carried to a place of safety, excepting William Trenton, 
a soldier, who remained on his perilous stand till the 
morning of Saturday, the 7th, exposed to the united hor¬ 
rors of extreme personal danger, and the most acute 
disquietude of mind. 

The surviving officers, seamen, and soldiers, being 
assembled at the house of their benevolent deliverer, 
Mr. Garland, they were mustered, and found to amount 
to 74, out of more than 240, which was nearly the num¬ 
ber of the crew and passengers when she sailed through 
the Downs. Of the rest, it is supposed that fifty or more 
sank with the Captain and the ladies in the roundhouse, 
and that upwards of seventy reached the rocks, but 
were washed off, or perished in falling from the cliffs. 
All those who reached the summit survived, excepting 
two or three, who expired while being drawn up, and 
a black who died a few hours after he was brought to 
18 


206 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the house. Many, however, were so miserably bruised, 
that their lives were doubtful, and it was a considerable 
time before they perfectly recovered their strength. 

The benevolence and generosity of the master of the 
Crown Inn, at Blanford, deserves the highest praise. 
When the distressed seamen - arrived at that town he 
sent for them all to his house, and having given them the 
refreshment of a comfortable dinner, he presented each 
man with half a crown to help him on his journey. 


LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, 

OF LONDON. 

The Nottingham Galley, of and from London, of 120 
tons, ten guns, fourteen men, John Dean, commander, 
having taken in cordage in England, and butter, cheese, 
&c. in Ireland, sailed for Boston in New-England, the 
25th of September, 1710. Meeting with contrary winds 
and bad weather, it was the beginning of December, when 
we first made land to the eastward of Piscataqua, and 
proceeding southward for the bay of Massachusetts, un¬ 
der a hard gale of wind at northeast, accompanied with 
rain, hail and snow; having no observation for ten or 
twelve days, we, on the 11th, handed all our sails, ex¬ 
cepting our fore-sail and maintop sail double reefed, or¬ 
dering one hand forward to look out. Between eight and 
nine o’clock, going forward myself, I saw the breakers 
ahead, whereupon I called out to put the helm hard to 
starboard, but before the ship could wear, we struck upon 
the east end of the rock, called Boon Island, four leagues 
to the Eastward of Piscataqua. 

The second or third sea heaved the ship alongside of 
it; running likewise so very high, and the ship laboring 
so excessively, that we were not able to stand upon deck; 
and though it was not distant above thirty or forty yards, 
yet the weather was so thick and dark, that we could not 
see the rock, so that we were justly thrown into con- 



LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON. 207 

sternation at the melancholy prospect of immeidately 
perishing in the sea. I presently called all hands down 
to the cabin, where we continued a few minutes, earnestly 
supplicating the mercy of heaven; but knowing that 
prayers, alone, are vain, I ordered all up again to cut 
the masts by the board, but several were so oppressed by 
the terrors of conscience that they were incapable of any 
exertion. We, however went upon deck, cut the wea- 
thermost shrouds, and the ship heeling toward the rocks, 
the force of the sea soon broke the masts, so that they 
fell towards the shore. 

One of the men went out on the bowsprit, and return¬ 
ing, told me he saw something black ahead, and would 
venture to go on shore, accompanied with any other per¬ 
son : upon which I desired some of the best swimmers 
(my mate and one more) to go with him, and if they 
gained the rock, to give notice by their calls, and direct 
us to the most secure place. Recollecting some money 
and papers that might be of use, also ammunition, bran¬ 
dy, &c., I then went down and opened the place in which 
they were; but the ship bilging, her decks opened, her 
back broke, and her beams gave way, so that the stern 
sank under water. I therefore hastened forward to es¬ 
cape instant death, and having heard nothing of the men 
who had gone before, concluded that they were lost. 
Notwithstanding, I was under the necessity of making 
the same adventure upon the foremast, moving gradu¬ 
ally forward betwixt every sea, till at last quitting it, I 
threw myself with all the strength I had, toward the 
rock; but it being low water, and the rock extremely 
slippery, I could get no hold, and tore my fingers, hands, 
and arms, in the most deplorable manner, every sea 
fetching me off again, so that it was with the utmost 
peril and difficulty that I got safe on shore at last. The 
rest of the men ran the same hazards, but through the 
mercy of Providence we all escaped with our lives. 

After endeavoring to discharge the salt water and 
creeping a little way up the rock, I heard the voices of 
the three men above mentioned, and by ten o’clock we 
all met together, when, with grateful hearts, we returned 


20S 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


thanks to Providence for our deliverance from such im¬ 
minent danger. We then endeavored to gain shelter to 
the leeward of the rock, but found it so small and incon¬ 
siderable, that it would afford none, (being about one 
hundred yards long and fifty broad,) and so very craggy 
that we could not walk to keep ourselves warm, the 
weather still continuing extremely cold, with snow and 
rain. 

As soon as day light appeared I went toward the place 
where we came on shore, not doubting but that we 
should meet with provisions enough from the wreck for 
our support, but found only some pieces of the masts 
and yards among some old junk and cables heaped to¬ 
gether, which the anchors had prevented from being 
carried away, and kept moving about the rock at some 
distance. Part of the ship’s stores with some pieces of 
plank and timber, old sails, canvas, &c. drove on shore, 
but nothing eatable, excepting three small cheeses which 
we picked up among the rock-weed. 

We used our utmost endeavors to get fire, having a steel 
and flint with us, and also by a drill, with a very swift 
motion; but having nothing which had not been water- 
soaked, all our attempts proved ineffectual. 

At night we stowed ourselves, under our canvas, in the 
best manner possible, to keep each other warm. The 
next day the weather clearing a little, and inclining to a 
frost, I went out, and perceiving the main land, I knew 
where we were, and encouraged my men with the hope 
of being discovered by fishing shallops, desiring them to 
search for and bring up any planks, carpenter’s tools, 
and stores they could find, in order to build a tent and a 
boat. The cook then complained that he was almost 
starved, and his countenance discovering his illness, I 
ordered him to remain behind with two or three more 
the frost had seized. About noon the men acquainted 
me that he was dead; we therefore laid him in a conve¬ 
nient place for the sea to carry him away. None men¬ 
tioned eating him, though several, with myself, after¬ 
wards acknowledged that they thought of it. 






































































































































































’ 




































f 



























































































LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON. 209 

After we had been in this situation two or three days, 
the frost being very severe, and the weather extremely 
cold, it affected most of our hands and feet to such a 
degree as to take away the sense of feeling, and render 
them almost useless ; so benumbing and discoloring them 
as gave us just reason to apprehend mortification. We 
pulled off our shoes, and cut off our boots; but in getting 
off our stockings, many, whose legs were blistered, pulled 
off skin and all, and some, the nails of their toes. We 
then wrapped up our legs and feet as warmly as we could 
in oakum and canvas. 

Now we began to build our tent in a triangular form, 
each side being about eight feet, covered it with the old 
sails and canvas that came on shore, having just room 
for each to lie down on one side, so that none could 
turn, unless all turned, which was about every two 
hours, when notice was given. We also fixed a staff to 
the top of our tent, upon which, as often as the weather 
would permit, we hoisted a piece of cloth in the form of 
a flag, in order to discover ourselves to any vessel that 
might approach. 

We then commenced the building of our boat with 
planks and timber belonging to the wreck. Our only 
tools were the blade of a cutlass, made into a saw with 
our knives, a hammer, and a caulking mallet. We found 
some nails in the clefts of the rock, and obtained others 
from the sheathing. We laid three planks flat for the 
bottom, and two up each side, fixed to stanchions and 
let into the bottom timbers, with two short pieces at each 
end, and one breadth of new Holland duck round the 
sides to keep out the spray of the sea. We caulked all 
we could with oakum drawn from the old junk, and in 
other places filled up the spaces with long pieces of 
canvas, all of which we secured in the best manner pos¬ 
sible. We found also some sheet lead and pump-leather, 
which proved of use. We fixed a short mast and square 
sail, with seven paddles to row, and a longer one to 
steer with. But our carpenter, whose services were now 
most wanted, was, on account of illness, scarcely capa¬ 
ble of affording us either assistance or advice; and all 
18 * 


210 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the rest, excepting myself and two others, were so be¬ 
numbed and feeble as to be unable to move. The wea¬ 
ther, too, was so extremely cold, that we could seldom 
stay out of the tent more than four hours in the day 
and some days we could do nothing at all. 

When we had been upon the rock about a week, with¬ 
out any kind of provisions, excepting the chedse above- 
mentioned, and some beef bones, which we eat, aftei 
beating them to pieces, we saw three boats, about five 
leagues from us, which, as may easily be imagined, re¬ 
joiced us not a little, believing that the period of our 
deliverance had arrived. I directed all the men to creep 
out of the tent and halloo together, as loud as their 
strength would permit. We likewise made all the sig¬ 
nals we could, but in vain, for they neither heard nor 
saw us. We, however, received no small encouragement 
from the sight of them, as they came from the south¬ 
west ; and the wind being at north-east when we were 
cast away, we had reason to suppose that our distress 
might have been made known by the wreck driving on 
shore, and to presume that they had come out in search 
of us, and would daily do so when the weather should 
permit. Thus we flattered ourselves with the pleasing 
but delusive hope of deliverance. 

Just before we had finished our boat, the carpenter's 
axe was cast upon the rock, by which we were enabled to 
complete our work, but then we had scarcely strength 
sufficient to get her into the water. 

About the 21st of December, the boat being finished, 
the day fine, and the water smoother than I had yet 
seen it since we came there, we consulted who should 
attempt to launch her; I offered myself as one to venture 
in her; this was agreed to, as I was the strongest, and 
therefore the fittest to undergo the extremities to which 
we might possibly be reduced. My mate also offered 
himself, and desiring to accompany me, 1 was permitted 
to take him, together with my brother and four more 
Thus commending our enterprize to Providence, all that 
were able came out, and with much difficulty, got our 
poor patched-up boat to the water-side. The surf run 


LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON. 211 

ning very high, we were obliged to wade very deep to 
launch her, upon which I and another got into her. The 
swell of the sea heaved her along the shore and overset 
upon us, whereby we again narrowly escaped drowning. 
Our poor boat was staved to pieces, our enterprize totally 
disappointed, and our hopes utterly destroyed. 

What heightened our afflictions, and served to aggra- 
vate our miserable prospects, and render our deliverance 
less practicable, we lost, with our boat, both our axe 
and hammer, which would have been of great use to us 
if we should afterwards have attempted to construct a 
raft. Yet we had reason to admire the goodness of God 
in producing our disappointment for our safety ; for, that 
afternoon, the wind springing up, it blew so hard, inso¬ 
much that, had we been at sea in that imitation of a 
boat, we must, in all probability, have perished, and 
those left behind, being unable to help themselves, must 
doubtless soon have shared a similar fate. 

We were now reduced to the most melancholy and 
deplorable situation imaginable; almost every man but 
myself was weak to an extremity, nearly starved with 
hunger and perishing with cold; their hands and feet 
frozen and mortified ; large and deep ulcers in their legs; 
the smell of which was highly offensive to those who 
could not creep into the air, and nothing to dress them 
with but a piece of linen that was cast on shore. W$ 
had no fire : our small stock of cheese was exhausted, 
and we had nothing to support our feeble bodies but 
rock-weed and a few muscles, scarce and difficult to be 
procured, at most not above two or three for each man 
a day; so that our miserable bodies were perishing, and 
our disconsolate spirits overpowered by the deplorable 
prospect of starving, without any appearance of relief. 
To aggravate our situation, if possible, we had reason to 
apprehend, lest the approaching springtide if accompani¬ 
ed with high winds, should entirely overflow us. The 
horrors of such a situation it is impossible to describe; 
the pinching cold and hunger; extremity of weakness 
and pain; racking and horrors of conscience in many; 
and the prospect of a certain, painful, and lingering 


212 remarkable shipwrecks. 

death, without even the most remote views of delive¬ 
rance ! This is, indeed, the height of misery; yet such 
alas! was our deplorable case: insomuch that the 
greater part of our company were ready to die of horror 
and despair. 

For my part, I did my utmost to encourage myself, 
exhort the rest to trust in God, and patiently await their 
deliverance. As a slight alleviation of our fate, Provi¬ 
dence directed towards our quarters a sea-gull, which 
my mate struck down and joyfully brought to me. I 
divided it into equal portions, and though raw, and 
scarcely affording a mouthful for each, yet we received 
and eat it thankfully. 

The last method of rescuing ourselves we could possi¬ 
bly devise, was to construct a raft capable of carrying 
two men. This proposal was strongly supported by a 
Swede, one of our men, a stout, brave fellow, who, since 
our disaster, had lost the use of both his feet by the 
frost. He frequently importuned me to attempt our de¬ 
liverance in that way, offering himself to accompany 
ine, or, if I refused, to go alone. After deliberate con¬ 
sideration we resolved upon a raft, but found great diffi¬ 
culty in clearing the fore-yard, of which it was chiefly 
to be made, from the junk, as our working hands were 
so few and weak. 

This done, we split the yard, and with the two parts 
made side-pieces, fixing ot-hers, and adding some of the 
lightest planks we could find, first spiking, and after¬ 
wards making them firm. The raft was four feet in 
breadth. We fixed up a mast, and out of two ham¬ 
mocks that were driven on shore we made a sail, with a 
paddle for each man, and a spare one in case of neces¬ 
sity. This difficulty being thus surmounted, the Swede 
frequently asked me whether I designed to accompany 
him, giving me to understand, that if I declined, there 
was another ready to offer himself for the enterprise. 

About this time we saw a sail come out of Piscataqua 
river, about seven leagues to the westward. We again 
made all the signals we could,but the wind being north¬ 
west, and the ship standing to the eastward, she was 


LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY OF LONDON. 213 

presently out of sight, without ever coming near us, 
which proved an extreme mortification to our hopes. 
The next day, being moderate, with a small breeze to¬ 
ward the shore in the afternoon, and the raft being 
wholly finished, the two men were very anxious to have 
it launched; but this was as strenuously opposed by the 
mate, because it was so late, being two in the afternoon. 
They, however, urged the lightness of the nights, begged 
me to suffer them to proceed, and I at length consented. 
They both got upon the raft, when the swell, rolling 
very high, soon overset them, as it did our boat. The 
Swede not daunted by this accident, swam on shore, but 
the other being no swimmer, continued some time under 
water; as soon as he appeared, I caught hold of and 
saved him, but he was so discouraged that he was 
afraid to make a second attempt. I desired the Swede 
to wait for a more favorable opportunity, but he continued 
resolute, begged me to go with him, or help him to turn 
the raft, and he would go alone. 

By this time another man came down and offered to 
adventure; when they were upon the raft, I launched 
them off’, they desiring us to go to prayers, and also to 
watch what became of them. I did so, and by sunset 
judged them half-way to the mainland and supposed that 
they might reach the shore by two in the morning. 
They, however, probably fell in with some breakers, or 
were overset by the violence of the sea and perished ; for, 
two days afterwards, the raft was found on shore, and 
one man dead about a mile from it, with a paddle fas¬ 
tened to his wrist; but the Swede, who was so very for¬ 
ward to adventure, was never heard of more. 

We, who were left on the desolate island, ignorant of 
what had befallen them, waited daily for deliverance. 
Our expectations were the more raised by a smoke we 
observed, two days afterwards in the woods, which was 
the signal appointed to be made if they arrived Safely. 
This continued every day, and we were willing to be¬ 
lieve that it was made on our account, though we saw 
no appearance of any thing toward our relief. We sup¬ 
posed that the delay was occasioned because they were 


214 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


not able to procure a vessel so soon as we desired, and 
this idea served to bear up our spirits and to support us 
greatly. 

Still our principal want was that of provision, having 
nothing to eat but rock weed, and a very few muscles; 
indeed, when the spring-tide was over, we could scarce¬ 
ly get any at all. I went myself as no other person was 
able, several days at low water, and could find no more 
than two or three apiece. I was frequently in danger 
of losing my hands and arms, by putting them so often 
into the water after the muscles, and when obtained, 
my stomach refused them, and preferred rock weed. 

Upon our first arrival we saw several seals upon the 
rocks, and supposing they might harbor there in the 
night, I walked round at midnight, but could never meet 
with any thing. We saw likewise, a great number of 
birds, which perceiving us daily there, would never 
lodge upon the rock, so that we caught none. 

This disappointment was severe, and tended to aggra¬ 
vate our miseries still more; but it was particularly 
afflicting to a brother I had with me, and another young 
gentleman, neither of whom had before been at sea, or 
endured any kind of hardship. They were now reduc¬ 
ed to the last extremity, having no assistance but what 
they received from me. 

Part of a green hide, fastened to a piece of the main- 
yard, being thrown up by the sea, the men importuned 
me to bring it to the tent, which being done, we minced 
it small and swallowed it 

About this time I set the men to open junk, and when 
the weather would permit I thatched the tent with the 
rope yarn in the best manner I was able, that it might 
shelter us the better from the extremities of the wea¬ 
ther. This proved of so much service as to turn two or 
three hours rain, and preserve us from the cold, pinch¬ 
ing winds which were always very severe upon us. 

Toward the latter part of December, our carpenter, a 
fat man, and naturally of a dull, heavy, phlegmatic dis¬ 
position, aged about forty-seven, who, from our first 
coming on shore, had been constantly very ill, and lost 


LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON. 215 

the use of his feet, complained of excessive pain in his 
back, and stiffness in his neck. He was likewise almost 
choked with phlegm, for want of strength to discharge 
it, and appeared to draw near his end. We prayed over 
him, and used our utmost endeavors to be serviceable 
to him in his last moments; he showed himself sensible, 
though speechless, and died that night. We suffered the 
body to remain till morning, when I desired those who 
were most able, to remove it; creeping out myself to see 
whether Providence had sent us any thing to satisfy the 
excessive cravings of our appetites. Returning before 
noon, and not seeing the dead body without the tent, I 
inquired why they had not removed it, and received for 
answer, they were not all of them able; upon which, 
fastening a rope to the body, I gave the utmost of my 
assistance, and with some difficulty we dragged it out 
of the tent. But fatigue, and the consideration of our 
misery, so overcame my spirits, that being ready to faint, 
I crept into the tent, and was no sooner there, than, to 
add to my trouble, the men began to request my permis¬ 
sion to eat the dead body, the better to support their 
lives. 

This circumstance was, of all the trials I had encoun¬ 
tered, the most grievous and shocking :—to see myseff 
and company, who came hither laden with provisions 
but three weeks before, now reduced to such a deplora¬ 
ble situation ; two of us having been absolutely starved 
to death, while, ignorant of the fate of two others, the 
rest, though still living, were reduced to the last extre¬ 
mity, and requiring to eat the dead for their support. 

After mature consideration of the lawfulness or sin¬ 
fulness, on the one hand, and absolute necessity on the 
other, judgment and conscience were obliged to submit 
to the more prevailing arguments of our craving appe¬ 
tites. We, at length, determined to satisfy our hunger, 
and support our feeble bodies with the carcass of our 
deceased companion. I first ordered his skin, head, 
hands, feet, and bowels, to be buried in the sea, and the 
body to be quartered, for the convenience of drying and 
carriage, but again received for answer, that none of 


216 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


them being able, they intreated I would perform that 
labor for them. This was a hard task; but their inces¬ 
sant prayers and entreaties at last prevailed over my re¬ 
luctance, and by night I had completed the operation. 

I cut part of the flesh into thin slices, and washing it 
in salt water, brought it to the tent and obliged the men 
to eat rock-weed with it instead of bread. My mate 
and two others refused to eat any that night, but the 
next morning they complied, and earnestly desired to par¬ 
take with the rest. 

I found that they all eat with the utmost avidity, so 
that I was obliged to carry the quarters farther from the 
tent, out of their reach, lest they should injure them¬ 
selves by eating too much, and likewise expend our 
small stock too soon. 

I also limited each man to an equal portion, that they 
might not quarrel or have cause to reflect on me or one 
another. This method I was the more obliged to adopt, 
because, in a few days, I found their disposition's en¬ 
tirely changed, and that affectionate, peaceable temper 
they had hitherto manifested, totally lost. Their eyes 
looked wild and staring, their countenances fierce and 
barbarous, instead of obeying my commands, as they 
had universally and cheerfully'done before, I now found 
even prayers and entreaties vain and fruitless ; nothing 
was now to be heard but brutal quarrels, with horrid 
oaths and imprecations, instead of that quiet submissive 
spirit of prayer and supplication they had before mani¬ 
fested. 

This, together with the dismal prospect of future want, 
obliged me to keep a strict watch over the rest of the 
body, lest any of them, if able, should get to it, and if 
that were spent we should be compelled to feed upon 
the living, which we certainly must have done, had we 
remained in that situation a few days longer. 

The goodness of God now began to appear, and to 
make provision for our deliverance, by putting it into 
the hearts of the good people on the shore, to which our 
raft was driven, to come out in search of us, which they 
did on the 2d of January, in the morning. 


LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON. 217 

Just as I was creeping out of the tent I saw a shallop 
half way from the shore, standing directly toward us. 
Our joy and satisfaction, at the prospect of such speedy 
and unexpected deliverance, no tongue is able to express, 
nor thought to conceive. 

Our good and welcome friends came to an anchor to 
the south-west, at the distance of about one hundred 
yards, the swell preventing them from approaching 
nearer; but their anchor coming home obliged them to 
stand off till about noon, waiting for smoother water 
upon the flood. Meanwhile our passions were differently 
agitated ; our expectations of deliverance, and fears of 
miscarriage, harried our weak and disordered spirits 
strangely. 

I gave them an account of all our miseries, excepting 
the want of provisions, which 1 did not mention, lest the 
fear of being constrained by the weather to remain with 
us, might have prevented them from coming on shore. 
I earnestly entreated them to attempt our immediate de¬ 
liverance, or at least to furnish us if possible, with fire, 
which, with the utmost hazard and difficulty they at 
last accomplished, by sending a small canoe, with one 
man, who, after great exertion, got on shore. 

After helping him up with his canoe, and seeing no¬ 
thing to eat, I asked him if he could give us fire:—he 
answered in the affirmative, but was so affrighted by my 
thin and meagre appearance that, at first, he could 
scarcely return me an answer. However, recollecting 
himself, after several questions asked on both sides, he 
went with me to the tent, where he was surprised to see 
so many of us in such a deplorable condition. Our flesh 
was so wasted, and our looks were so ghastly and fright¬ 
ful, that it was really a very dismal spectacle. 

With some difficulty we made a fire, after which, 
determining to go on board myself with the man, and to 
send for the rest, one or two at a time, we both got into 
the canoe; but the sea immediately drove us against the 
rock with such violence that we were overset, and being 
very weak, it was a considerable time before I could re¬ 
cover myself, so that I had again a very narrow escape 


218 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


from drowning. The good man with great difficulty 
got on board without me, designing to return the next 
day with better conveniences, if the weather should 
permit. 

It was an afflicting sight to observe our friends in the 
shallop, standing away for the shore without us. But 
God, who orders every thing for the best, doubtless had 
designs of preservation in denying us the appearance of 
present deliverance: for the wind coming about to south¬ 
east, it blew so hard that the shallop was lost, and the 
crew with extreme difficulty, saved their lives. Had 
we been with them it is more than probable that we 
should all have perished, not having strength sufficient 
to help ourselves. 

When they had reached the shore they immediately 
sent an express to Portsmouth, in Piscataqua, where the 
good people made no delay in hastening to our delive¬ 
rance as soon as the weather would allow. To our 
great sorrow, and as a farther trial of our patience, the 
next day continued very stormy, and though we doubted 
not but the people on shore knew our condition, and 
would assist us as soon as possible, yet our flesh being 
nearly consumed, being without fresh water, and uncer¬ 
tain how long the unfavorable weather might continue, 
our situation was extremely miserable. We, however, 
received great benefit from our fire, as we could both 
warm ourselves and broil our meat. 

The next day, the men being very importunate for 
flesh, I gave them rather more than usual, but not to 
their satisfaction. They would certainly have eaten up 
the whole at once, had I not carefully watched them, 
with the intention of sharing the rest next morning, if 
the weather continued bad. The wind, however, abated 
that night, and early next morning a shallop came for 
us, with my much esteemed friends captain Long and 
captain Purver, and three other men, who brought a 
large canoe, and in two hours got us all on board, being 
obliged to carry almost all of us upon their backs from 
the tent to the canoe, and fetch us off by two or three at 
a time. 


LOSS OF THE DROITS DE L’HOMME. 219 

When we first came on board the shallop, each of us 
eat a piece of bread, and drank a dram of rum, and most 
y of us were extremely sea-sick : but after we had cleans¬ 
ed our stomachs and tasted warm nourishing food, we 
became so exceeding hungry and ravenous, that had not 
our friends dieted us, and limited the quantity for two 
or three days, we should certainly have destroyed our¬ 
selves with eating. 

Two days after our coming on shore, my apprentice 
lost the greater part of one foot; all the rest recovered 
their limbs, but not their perfect use ; very few, except¬ 
ing myself, escaping without losing the benefit of fingers 
or toes, though otherwise all were in perfect health. 


LOSS OF THE FRENCH SHIP DROITS DE 
L’HOMME. 

On the 5th of January, 1797, returning home on leave 
of absence from the West Indies, in the Cumberland 
letter of marque, for the recovery of my health, saw a 
large man-of-war off the coast of Ireland, being then 
within four leagues of the mouth of the river Shannon. 
She hoisted English colors, and decoyed us within 
gun-shot, when she substituted the tri-colored flag, and 
took us. She proved to be les Droits de L’Homme, of 
74 guns, commanded by the ci devant baron, now citi¬ 
zen La Crosse, and had separated from a fleet of men-of- 
war, on board of which were twenty thousand troops, 
intended to invade Ireland. On board of this ship was 
General Humbert, who afterwards effected a descent in 
Ireland (in 1799) with nine hundred troops and six hun¬ 
dred seamen.* 

On the 7th of January, went into Bantry Bay to see 
if any of the squadron were still there, and on finding 
none, the ship proceeded to the southward. Nothing 

* Sir Edvard Pellew has since told me that the official account from 

France, on which he has received head money, amounted to one thousand seven 
nundred and fifty souls at the time of the shipwreck. 




220 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

extraordinary occurred until the evening of the 13th, 
when two men-of-war hove in sight, which afterwards 
proved to be the Indefatigable and Amazon frigates. It 
is rather remarkable that the captain of the ship should 
inform me, that the squadron which was going to engage 
him was Sir Edward Pellew’s, and declared, as was 
afterwards proved by the issue, that “ he would not yield 
to any two English frigates, but would sooner sink his 
ship with every soul on board.” The ship was then 
cleared for action, and we English prisoners, consisting 
of three infantry officers, two captains of merchantmen, 
two women, and forty-eight seamen and soldiers, were 
conducted down to the cable tier at the foot of the fore¬ 
mast. 

The action began with opening the lower deck ports, 
which, however, were soon shut again, on account of the 
great sea, which occasioned the water to rush in to such 
a degree that we felt it running on the cables. I mtist 
here observe, that the ship was built on a new construc¬ 
tion, considerably longer than men-qf-war of her rate, 
and her lower deck, on which she mounted thirty-two 
pounders French, equal to forty pounders English, was 
two feet and a half lower than usual. The situation of 
the ship, before she struck on the rocks, has been fully 
represented by Sir Edward Pellew, in his letter of the 
17th of January, to Mr. Nepean: the awful task is left 
for me to relate what ensued. 

At about four in the morning, a dreadful convulsion, at 
the foot of the foremast, roused us from a state of anxie¬ 
ty for our fate to the idea that the ship was sinking !— 
It was the fore-mast that fell over the side; in about a 
quarter of an hour an awful mandate from above was 
re-echoed from all parts of the ship: Pauvres Anglais ! 
pauvres Anglais! Montez bien vile, nous sommes tons 
perdus !—“Poor Englishmen ! poor Englishmen! come 
on deck as fast as you can, we are all lost!” Every one 
rather flew than climbed. Though scarcely able to 
move before, from sickness, yet I now felt an energetic 
strength in all my frame, and soon gained the upper 
deck, but what a sight! dead, and wounded, and living, 


LOSS OF THE DROITS DE l’hOMME. 221 

intermingled in a state terrible beyond description: not a 
mast standing, a dreadful loom of the land, and breakers 
all around us. The Indefatigable, on the starboard quar¬ 
ter, appeared standing off, in a most tremendous sea, 
from the Penmark Rocks, which threatened her with in¬ 
stant destruction. To the great humanity of her com¬ 
mander, those few persons who survived the shipwreck, 
are indebted for their lives, for had another broadside 
been fired, the commanding situation of the Indefatiga¬ 
ble must have swept off, at least, a thousand men.— 
On the starboard side was seen the Amazon, within 
two miles, just struck on shore. Our own fate drew 
near. The ship struck and immediately sunk ! Shrieks 
of horror and dismay were heard from all quarters, 
while the merciless waves tore from the wreck many 
early victims. Day-light appeared, and we beheld the 
shore lined with people, who could render us no assist¬ 
ance. At low water, rafts were constructed, and the 
boats were got in readiness to be hoisted out. The dusk 
arrived, and an awful night ensued. The dawn of the 
day brought with it still severer miseries than the first, 
for the wants of nature could scarcely be endured any 
longer, having been already near thirty hours without 
any means of subsistence, and no possibility of procuring 
them. At low water a small boat was hoisted out, and 
an English captain and eight sailors succeeded in getting 
to the shore. Elated at the success of these men, all 
thought their deliverance at hand, and many launched 
out on their rafts, but, alas! death soon ended their 
hopes. 

Another night renewed our afflictions. The morning 
of the third, fraught with still greater evils, appeared; 
our continual sufferings made us exert the last effort, 
and we, English prisoners, tried every means to save 
as many of our fellow-creatures as lay in our power.— 
Larger rafts were constructed, and the largest boat was 
got over the side. The first consideration was to lay 
the surviving wounded, the women, and helpless men, 
in the boat, but the idea of equality so fatally promulga¬ 
ted among the French, destroyed all subordination, 
19* 


222 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


and nearly one hundred and twenty having jumped into 
the boat, in defiance of their officers, they sank her.— 
The most dreadful sea that I ever saw, seemed at that 
fatal moment to aggravate the calamity ; nothing of the 
boat was seen for a quarter of an hour, when the bodies 
floated in all directions; then appeared, in all their hor¬ 
rors, the wreck, the shores, the dying and the drowned ! 
Indefatigable in acts of humanity, an adjutant-general, 
Renier, launched himself into the sea, to obtain succor 
from the shore, and perished in the attempt. 

Nearly one half of the people had already perished, 
when the horrors of the fourth night renewed all our 
miseries. Weak, distracted, and destitute of every thing, 
we envied the fate of those whose lifeless corpses no 
longer wanted sustenance. The sense of hunger was 
already lost, but a parching thirst consumed our vitals. 
Recourse was had to urine and salt water, which only 
increased our want; half a hogshead of vinegar indeed 
floated up, of which each had half a wine glass: it af¬ 
forded a momentary relief, yet soon left us again in the 
same state of dreadful thirst. Almost at the last gasp, 
every one was dying with misery, and the ship, now 
one third shattered away from the stern, scarcely afford¬ 
ed a grasp to hold by, to the exhausted and helpless sur¬ 
vivors. 

The fourth day brought with it a more serene sky, and 
the sea seemed to subside, but to behold, from fore to 
aft, the dying in all directions, was a sight too shocking 
for the feeling mind to endure. Almost lost to a sense 
of humanity, we no longer looked with pity on those 
whom we considered only as the forerunners of our own 
speedy fate, and a consultation took place, to sacrifice 
some one to be food for the remainder. The die was 
going to be cast, when the welcome sight of a man-of- 
war brig renewed our hopes. A cutter speedily followed, 
and both anchored at a short distance from the wreck. 
They then sent their boats to us, and by means of large 
rafts, about one hundred, out of four hundred, who at¬ 
tempted it, were saved by the brig that evening. Three 
hundred and eighty were left to endure another night’s 


LOSS OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY. 223 

misery, when, dreadful to relate, above one half were 
found dead the next morning! 

1 was saved about ten o’clock, on the morning of the 
18th, with my two brother officers, the Captain of the 
ship, and General Humbert. They treated us with great 
humanity on board the cutter, giving us a little weak 
brandy and water every five or six minutes, and after 
that, a basin of good soup. I fell on the locker in a 
kind of trance for nearly thirty hours, and swelled to such 
a degree as to require medical aid to restore my decayed 
faculties. Having lost all our baggage, we were taken to 
Brest almost naked, where they gave us a rough shift of 
clothes, and in consequence of our sufferings, and the 
help we afforded in saving many lives, a cartel was fitted 
out by order of the French government to send us home, 
without ransom or exchange. We arrived at Plymouth 
on the 7th of March following. 

To that Providence, whose great workings I have 
experienced in this most awful trial of human afflictions, 
be ever offered the tribute of my praise and thanksgiving. 


LOSS OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY 
EAST INDIAMAN. 

The universal concern occasioned by the loss of the 
Earl of Abergavenny, has induced us to lay before our 
readers an accurate statement of this melancholy disas¬ 
ter, chiefly collected from the accounts which were given 
at the India-House, by Cornet Burgoyne, of his majesty’s 
eighth regiment of light dragoons, who had the com¬ 
mand of the troops on board the above vessel, and by 
the fourth officer of the ship, (who were among the few 
who fortunately escaped from the wreck,) and from the 
best information afterwards received. 

On Friday, February the 1st, the Earl of Abergaven¬ 
ny, East-Indiaman, captain Wadsworth, sailed from 
Portsmouth, in company wkh the royal George, Henry 
Addington, Wexford, and Bombay Castle, under convoy 
of his majesty’s ship Weymouth, captain Draper. 



224 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


The Earl of Abergavenny was engaged in the compa¬ 
ny’s service for six voyages, and this was the fourth on 
which she was proceeding. 

Her company consisted of 

Seamen, &c.160 


Troops, King’s and Company’s . 
Passengers at the Captain’s table 
Ditto, at the Third Mate’s . . 

Chinese . 


159 

40 

11 

32 


Total 402 

In going through the Needles, they unfortunately 
separated from the convoy. The fleet, in consequence, 
lay to nearly the whole of the next day: but seeing no¬ 
thing of the Weymouth, proceeded under moderate sail 
towards the next port, in hopes of being joined by the 
convoy. On the 5th, the convoy not appearing, it was 
deemed expedient to wait her arrival in Portland Roads, 
particularly as the wind had become rather unfavorable, 
having shifted several points from the N. E. Captain 
Clarke of the Wexford, being senior-commander, and 
consequently commodore, made the signal for those ships 
that had taken Pilots on board, to run into the Roads. 

The Earl of Abergavenny having at about half past 
three, P. M. got a pilot on board, bore up for Portland 
Roads with a steady wind, when on a sudden the wind 
slackened, and the tide setting in fast, drove her rapidly 
on the Shambles. The nearer she approached, the less 
she was under management ; and being at last totally 
ungovernable, was driven furiously on the rocks, off the 
Bill of Portland, about two miles from the shore. She 
remained on the rocks nearly an hour, beating in¬ 
cessantly with great violence, the shocks being so great, 
that the officers and men could scarcely keep their foot¬ 
ing on the deck. At four P. M. the shocks became less 
violent, and in about a quarter of an hour she cleared 
the rocks. The sails were immediately set, with an in¬ 
tention to run for the first port, as the ship made much 
water; but the leak increased so fast that the ship 
would not obey the helm. In this situation, it was con- 







LOSS OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY. 


225 


sidered necessary to fire signal guns of distress. Twenty 
were fired : the danger did not, however, appear to those 
on board sufficient to render it necessary for the ship’s 
boats to be hoisted out at this moment, as the weather 
was moderate, and the ship in sight of the fleet and 
shore. • 

The leak increased fast upon the pumps at five, P. M. 
Soon after striking, the hand pumps started above six 
inches, and shortly after the water increased from six 
to eight feet in spite of every exertion at the pumps. All 
endeavors to keep the water under were found in vain, 
and night setting in rendered the situation of all on 
board melancholy in the extreme; the more so, as it 
was then ascertained that the ship had received consi¬ 
derable damage in her bottom, immediately under the 
pumps. All hands took their turn at the pumps, alter¬ 
nately bailing at the fore-hatchway. At eight o’clock 
their situation became still more dreadful, when it was 
found impossible to save the ship, which was eventually 
sinking fast, and settling into the water. Signal guns 
were again discharged incessantly. The purser, with 
the third officer, Mr. Wadsworth, and six seamen, were 
sent on shore, in one of the ship’s boats, to give notice 
to the inhabitants of the distressed state of the ship and 
crew. At this time a pilot boat came off, and Mr. Evan’s 
with his daughter, Mr. Rcutledge, Mr. Taylor, a cadet, 
and Miss Jackson, passengers, embarked for the shore, 
notwithstanding a dreadful sea, which threatened them 
with almost instant destruction. 

For a few moments the general attention of the crew 
was diverted in observing the boats leave the ship; but 
these unfortunate people were soon reminded of their 
own approaching fate, by a heavy swell, which baffled 
almost every attempt to keep the ship above water. 
Every one seemed assured of his fate, and notwithstand¬ 
ing the unremitting attention of the officers, confusion 
commenced on board, as soon as it was given out that 
the ship was sinking. At ten, P. M. several sailors in- 
treated to be allowed more liquor, which being refused, 
they attacked the spirit-room, but were repulsed by the 


226 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


officers, who never once lost sight of their character, or 
that dignity so necessary to be preserved on such an oc¬ 
casion, hut continued to conduct themselves with the 
utmost fortitude to the last. One of the officers, who 
was stationed at the door of the spirit-room, with a brace 
of pistols to guard against surprise in so critical a mo¬ 
ment, at which post he remained even while the ship 
was sinking, was much importuned by a sailor, while 
the water poured in on all sides, to grant him some 
liquor. The man said he was convinced 11 it would be 
all one with them in an hour hence.” The officer, 
however, true to his trust in this perilous moment, had 
courage enough to repulse the man, and bid him go to 
his duty with his fellow-comrades, observing, “ that if it 
was God’s will they should perish, they should die like 
men.” 

At half past ten the water had got above the orlop- 
deck, in spite of the endeavors of the officers and crew 
who behaved in the most cool and exemplary manner. 
All on board were now anxiously looking out for boats 
from the shore, many wishing they had taken refuge in 
those that had already left the ship, as their destruction 
on board appeared inevitable. The utmost exertions 
became necessary to keep the ship above water till the 
boats came off from the shore. Unfortunately in the 
general distress and agony of the moment, the ship’s 
boats were not hoisted out, when every soul on board 
might possibly have been saved. At eleven o’clock, a 
fatal swell gave the ship a sudden shock : she gave a 
surge, and sank almost instantaneously, two miles from 
Weymouth beach; with scarcely five minutes warning, 
she went down by the head in twelve fathom water, 
after a heavy heel, when she righted and sank with her 
masts and rigging standing. Many clung to loose spars, 
and floated about the wreck, but the majority took refuge 
in the shrouds. The severe shock of the ship going 
down, made several let go their hold, whilst others, by 
the velocity of the ship’s descent, had not power to climb 
sufficiently fast to keep above the water. The Halse- 
well East Indiaman was wrecked within a few miles 
from this spot. 


LOSS OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY. 227 

When the hull of the ship touched the ground, about 
one hundred and eighty persons were supposed to be in 
the tops and rigging: their situation was terrible beyond 
description: the yards only were above water, and the 
sea was breaking over them, in the dead of a cold and 
frosty night. In about half an hour their spirits were 
revived, by the sound of several boats beating against 
the waves at a short distance : but, alas ! how vain their 
hopes, when on hailing the boats, not one of them came 
to their assistance. The sound of them died away, and 
they were again left to the mercy of the rude waves. 
By twelve o’clock their numbers had much decreased : 
the swell had swept off some, whilst others were, from 
the piercing cold, unable longer to retain their hold. 
Every moment they perceived some friend floating 
around them, for awhile, then sinking into the abyss to 
rise no more. 

About this time a sloop was discovered ; she had for¬ 
tunately heard the signal guns, and came to an anchor 
close by the ship. The weather was moderate, and 
those who had survived were now promised a speedy 
delivery. The sloop’s boat was immediately manned, 
and proceeded to the rigging that remained above water, 
when every person was taken off. The boat returned 
three times, taking twenty each return. Nothing could 
be more correct than the conduct of the crew on this oc¬ 
casion : they coolly got into the boat, one by one and 
those only as they were named by their officers. When 
it was supposed that every one was brought off, and the 
boat was about to depart for the last time, a person was 
observed in one of the tops: he was hailed but did 
not answer. Mr. Gilpin, the fourth officer, (whose ex¬ 
traordinary exertions on this occasion, as well as through¬ 
out the whole of this unfortunate affair, entitled him to 
the highest commendation,) returned to the wreck, and 
there found a man in an inanimate state, exhausted 
from the severe cold. He most humanely brought him 
down on his back, and took him to the boat; the man 
proved to be sergeant Heart of the 22d regiment. Every 
possible care was taken of him, but to no effect: he died 


/ 


228 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


about twelve hours after he had landed. The sloop 
having now, as was supposed, taken on hoard all the 
survivors of the ship, returned to Weymouth. She had 
not however, proceeded far, before it was perceived that 
Mr. Baggot, the chief officer, was close astern. The 
sloop immediately lay to for him; but this noble spirited 
young man, although certain of securing his own life, 
disregarded his own safety, on perceiving Mrs. Blair, an 
unfortunate fellow passenger, floating at some distance 
from him. He succeeded in coming up with her, and 
sustained her above water, while he swam towards the 
sloop ; but just as he was on the point of reaching it, a 
swell came on, and his strength being totally exhausted, 
he sank and never rose again. The unfortunate Mrs. 
Blair sank after him, and this generous youth thus pe¬ 
rished in vain. It was nearly two o’clock, before the 
sloop weighed anchor from the wreck, but the wind be¬ 
ing favorable she soon reached the port. On mustering 
those who had landed, it appeared that only one hundred 
and fifty-five persons had reached the shore out of four 
hundred and two who had embarked ! 

The greatest attention was paid to the unfortunate 
sufferers by the mayor and aldermen as well as the 
principal inhabitants of Weymouth; and the purser was 
immediately dispatched to the India House with the me¬ 
lancholy intelligence. 

At daylight, February the 6th, the top-masts of the 
ship were seen from Weymouth. During the time the 
passengers and crew remained in the tops she appeared 
to have sunk eight feet, and was considerably lower in 
the morning; it was therefore conjectured, that she had 
sunk on a mud-bank. The Greyhound cutter was im¬ 
mediately stationed to guard the wreck, and the boats 
from the Rover succeeded in stripping the masts of the 
rigging. On the 7th her decks had not been blown up, 
and she appeared to remain in exactly the same state in 
which she had sunk. Her sinking so steadily is attri¬ 
buted to the great weight of her cargo, her floorings con¬ 
sisting chiefly of earthern ware. The cargo of the ship 
was estimated at two hundred thousand pounds, besides 


LOSS OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY. 


229 


which she had on board dollars to the amount of two hun¬ 
dred and seventy-five thousand ounces, and is supposed 
to have been one of the richest ships that ever sailed for 
India. She was of the largest tonnage, and inferior only 
to the Ganges in the service, being at least fifteen hun¬ 
dred tons burthen, and built for the China trade. 

About eighty officers and seamen were saved, eleven 
passengers, fifteen Chinese, five out of thirty-two cadets 
and forty-five recruits. The captain was drowned. He 
was nephew to captain Wadsworth, who formerly com¬ 
manded the Earl of Abergavenny, and was considered 
one of the first navigators in the service. He was on 
his third voyage as captain, and, painful to relate, pe¬ 
rished with his ship, disdaining to survive the loss of so 
valuable a charge : his conduct throughout the distress¬ 
ing scene, has been spoken of in terms of the highest 
praise. It is an extraordinary fact that he felt such an 
unaccountable depression of spirits, that he could not be 
persuaded to go through the usual ceremony of taking 
leave of the court of directors on the day appointed ; and 
it was not till the Wednesday following, which was spe¬ 
cially fixed for that purpose, that he yielded to the wishes 
of his friends, and reluctantly attended the court! He 
was a man of remarkably mild manners; his conduct 
was, in every instance, so well tempered, that he was 
known among his shipmates, by the title of “ the Phi¬ 
losopher.” As soon as the ship was going down, Mr. 
Baggot, the chief officer, went on the quarter deck, and 
told him, “that all exertions were now in vain; the 
ship was rapidly sinking.” Captain Wadsworth, who, 
no doubt, expected it, steadfastly looked him in the 
face, and, at last, with every appearance of a heart-bro¬ 
ken man, faintly answered : “ Let her go ! God’s will be 
done.” These were the last words he uttered; from that 
instant he was motionless. In a few moments the ship 
sank, and many who were climbing the shrouds endea¬ 
vored to save him, but without success. In this endea¬ 
vor Mr. Gilpin was foremost, and made several unsuc¬ 
cessful attempts, at the evident risk of his own life. 

20 


LOSS OF THE CATHARINE, VENUS AND 
PIEDMONT TRANSPORTS; AND THREE 
MERCHANT SHIPS. 

The miseries of war are in themselves great and ter¬ 
rible, but the consequences which arise indirectly from it, 
though seldom known and little adverted to, are no less 
deplorable. The destruction of the sword sometimes 
bears only an inconsiderable proportion to the havoc of 
disease, and, in the pestilential climates of the western 
colonies, entire regiments, reared in succession, have as 
often fallen victims to their baneful influence. 

To prosecute the war with alacrity, it had been judged 
expedient to transport a strong body of troops on foreign 
service, but their departure was delayed by repeated ad¬ 
versities, and at length the catastrophe which is about to 
be related ensued. 

On the 15th of November, 1795, the fleet, under con¬ 
voy of Admiral Christian’s squadron, sailed from St. 
Helen’s. A more beautiful sight than it exhibited can¬ 
not be conceived; and those who had nothing to lament 
in leaving their native country, enjoyed the spectacle 
as the most magnificent produced by the art of man, and 
as that which the natives of this island contemplate with 
mingled pride and pleasure. 

Next day, the wind continued favorable, carried the 
fleet down the channel; and as the Catharine transport 
came within sight of the isle of Perbeck, Lieutenant 
Jenner, an officer on board, pointed out to another per¬ 
son, the rocks where the Halsewell and so many unfor¬ 
tunate individuals had perished. He and Cornet Burns, 
had been unable to reach Southampton until the Catha¬ 
rine had sailed therefore they hired a boy to overtake 
her; and on embarking at St. Helen’s, the former ex- 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 231 

pressed his satisfaction, in a letter to his mother, that he 
had been so fortunate as to do so. 

On Tuesday, the 17th, the fleet was off Portland, stand¬ 
ing to the westward; but the wind shifting and blowing 
a strong gale at south-south-west, the admiral, dubious 
whether they could clear the channel, made a signal for 
putting into Torbay, which some of the transports were 
then in sight of. However, they could not make the 
bay; the gale increased, and a thick fog came on; there¬ 
fore the admiral thought it expedient to alter his design, 
and about five in the afternoon made a signal for stand¬ 
ing out to sea. Of the circumstances relative to the 
Catharine, a more detailed account has been preserved 
than respecting the other vessels of the fleet; and they 
are preserved by a female, with whose name we are un¬ 
acquainted, in these words. 

u The evening of the 17th was boisterous and threat¬ 
ening; the master said he was apprehensive that we 
should have bad weather; and when I was desired to 
go on deck and look at the appearance of the sky, I ob¬ 
served that it was troubled and red, with great heavy 
clouds flying in all directions, acid with a sort of dull 
mist surrounding the moon. On repeating this to the 
other passengers, two of whom had been at sea before, 
they said we should certainly have a stormy night, and 
indeed it proved so very tempestuous, that no rest was 
to be obtained. Nobody, however, seemed to think that 
there was any danger, though the fog was so thick that 
the master could see nothing by which to direct his 
course; but he thought that he had sufficient sea-room. 

‘The fatigue I had suffered from the tossing of the 
ship, and the violence with which she continued to roll, 
had kept me in bed. It was about ten o’clock in the morn¬ 
ing of the 18th,. when the mate looked down into the 
cabin and cried, ‘ save yourselves if you can.’ 

‘The consternation and terror of that moment cannot 
be described; I had on a loose dressing gown, and wrap¬ 
ping it round me I went up, not quite on deck, but to the 
top of the stairs, from whence I saw the sea break moun¬ 
tain high against the shore. The passengers and soldiers 


232 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


seemed thunder-struck by the sense of immediate and 
inevitable danger, and the seamen, too conscious of the 
hopelessness of ‘ any exertion, stood in speechless agony, 
certain of meeting in a few moments that destruction 
which now menaced them. 

‘While I thus surveyed the scene around me in a kind 
of dread which no words can figure, Mr. Burns, an offi¬ 
cer of dragoons, who had come up in his shirt, called to 
Mr. Jenner and Mr. Stains for his cloak; nobody, how¬ 
ever, could attend to any thing in such a moment but 
self preservation. 

‘Mr. Jenner, Mr. Stains and Mr. Dodd the surgeon, now 
passed me, their countenances sufficiently expressing 
their sense of the situation in which we all were. Mr. 
Burns spoke cheerfully to me; he bade me take good 
courage, and Mr. Jenner observed, there was a good 
shore near, and all would do well. 

‘These gentlemen then went to the side of the ship, 
with the intention, I believe, of seeing whether it was 
possible to get on shore. The master of the vessel alone 
remained near the companion; when suddenly a tre¬ 
mendous wave broke over the ship, and struck me with 
such violence, that I was stunned for a moment, and, 
before being able to recover myself, the ship struck with 
a force so great as to throw me from the stairs into the 
cabin, the master being thrown down near me. At the 
same instant, the cabin, with a dreadful crash, broke 
in upon us, and planks and beams threatened to bury us 
in ruins. The master, however, soon recovered himself, 
he left me to go again upon deck, and I saw him no more. 

A sense of my condition lent me strength to disengage 
myself from the boards and fragments by which I was 
surrounded, and I once more got upon the stairs, I hardly 
know how. But what a scene did I behold ! The masts 
were all lying across the shattered remains of the deck, 
and no living creature appeared on it; all was gone, 
though I knew not then that they were gone forever. I 
looked forward to the shore, but there I could see nothing 
except the dreadful surf that broke against it, while be¬ 
hind the ship, immense black waves rose like tremendous 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 


233 


Tuins. I knew that they must overwhelm her, and 
thought that there could be no escape for me. 

Believing, then, that death was immediate and una¬ 
voidable, my idea was to regain my bed in the cabin, 
and there, resigning myself to the will of God, await 
the approaching moment. However, I could not reach 
it, and for awhile was insensible; then the violent strik¬ 
ing and breaking up of the wreck again roused me to re¬ 
collection ; I found myself near the cabin windows, and 
the water was rising around me. It rapidly increased, 
and the horrors of drowning were present to my view; 
yet do I remember seeing the furniture of the cabin float 
about. I sat almost enclosed by pieces of the wreck, and 
the water now reached my breast. 

The bruises I had received made every exertion ex¬ 
tremely difficult, and my loose gown was so entangled 
among the beams and fragments of the ship, that I could 
not disengage it. Still the desire of life, the hope of be¬ 
ing welcomed on shore, whither I thought my friends 
had escaped, and the remembrance of my child, all united 
in inspiring me with courage to attempt saving myself. 
I again tried to loosen my gown, but found it impossible, 
and the wreck continued to strike so violently, and the 
ruins to close so much more around me, that I now ex¬ 
pected to be crushed to death. As the ship drifted higher 
on the stones, the water rather lessened as the waves went 
back, but on their return, continued to cover me, and I 
once or twice lost my breath, and for a moment, my re¬ 
collection. When I had power to think, the principle of 
self preservation still urged me to exertion. 

The cabin now broke more and more, and through a 
large breach I saw the shore very near. Amidst the tu¬ 
mult of the raging waves I had a glimpse of the people, 
who were gathering up what the sea drove towards them; 
but I thought they could not see me, and from them I 
despaired of assistance.—Therefore I determined to make 
one effort to preserve my life. I disengaged my arms 
from the dressing gown, and, finding myself able to move, 
I quitted the wreck, and felt myself on the ground. I 
attempted to run, but was too feeble to save myself from 
20 * 


234 


remarkable shipwrecks. 


a raging wave, which overtook and overwhelmed me. 
Then I believed myself gone; yet, half suffocated as I 
was, I struggled very much, and I remember that I 
thought I was very long dying. The waves left me ; I 
breathed again, and made another attempt to get higher 
upon the bank, but, quite exhausted, I fell down and my 
senses forsook me. 

By this time I was observed by some of the people on the 
bank, and two men came to my assistance. They lifted 
me qp; I once more recovered some faint recollection; 
and, as they bore me along, I was sensible that one of 
them said the sea would overtake us; that he must let 
me go and take care of his own life. I only remember 
clinging to the other and imploring him not to abandon 
me to the merciless waves. But I have a very confused 
idea of what passed, till I saw the boat, into which I was 
to be put to cross the Fleet water; I had then just 
strength to say, for God’s sake do not take me to sea again. 

I believe the apprehension of it, added to my other suf¬ 
ferings, tended to deprive me of all further sensibility, for 
I have not the least recollection of any thing afterwards 
until roused by the remedies applied to restore me in a 
farmhouse whither I was carried. There I heard a num¬ 
ber of women around me, who asked a great number of 
questions which I was unable to answer. I remember 
hearing one say I was a French woman; another say 
that I was a negro, and indeed I was so bruised, and in 
such a disfigured condition, that the conjectures of these 
people are not surprising. 

‘When recovering some degree of confused recollection, 
and able to speak, 1 begged that they would allow me to 
go to bed. This, however. I did not ask with any ex¬ 
pectation of life, for I was now in such a state of suffer¬ 
ing, that my only wish was to be allowed to lie down 
and die in peace. 

‘Nothing could exceed the humanity of Mr. Abbot, the 
inhabitant of Fleet-farm-house, nor the compassionate 
attention of his sister, Miss Abbot, who not only afforded 
me immediate assistance, but continued for some days 
to attend me with such kindness and humanity, that I 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 


235 


shall always remember it with the sincerest gratitude.” 

The unfortunate sufferer who gives the preceding ac¬ 
count, was tended with great humanity by Mr. Bryer, 
while a wound in her foot, and the dangerous bruises she 
had received, prevented her from quitting the shelter she 
first found under the roof of Mr. Abbot, at Fleet. As 
soon as she was in a condition to be removed to Wey¬ 
mouth, Mr. Bryer, a surgeon there, received her into his 
own house, where Mrs. Bryer assisted in administering 
to her recovery such benevolent offices of consolation as 
her deplorable situation admitted. Meantime the gentle¬ 
men of the south battalion of the Gloucester Militia, who 
had done every thing possible towards the preservation 
of those who were the victims of the tempest, now liber¬ 
ally contributed to alleviate the pecuniary distresses of 
the survivors. None seemed to have so forcible a claim 
on their pity as this forlorn and helpless stranger; and 
she alone, of forty souls, except a single ship-boy, sur¬ 
vived the wreck of the Catharine. There perished, 
twelve seamen, two soldiers’ wives, twenty-two dragoons 
and four officers, Lieutenant Stains, Mr. Dodd of the 
hospital-staff, Lieutenant Jenner, the representative of an 
ancient and respectable family in Gloucestershire, aged 
thirty-one, and Cornet Burns, the son of an American 
loyalist of considerable property who was deprived of 
every thing for his adherence to the British government. 
—Having no dependence but on the promises of govern¬ 
ment to indemnify those who had suffered on that account 
he, after years of distress and difficulty, obtained a cor- 
netcy in the 26th regiment of dragoons, then going to the 
West Indies, and was thus lost in his twenty-fourth year. 
This officer had intended embarking in another trans¬ 
port, and actually sent his horse on board, when finding 
the Catharine more commodious, he gave her the prefer¬ 
ence, while the other put back to Spithead in safety. 
The mangled remains of Lieutenant Jenner were two 
days afterwards found on the beach and interred with 
military honors. 

But the Catharine was not the only vessel which suf¬ 
fered in the tempest. Those, who on shore had listened 
to it raging on the preceding evening, could not avoid 


236 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


feeling the most lively alarm for the consequences; 
and early in the morning on the 18th of November, seve¬ 
ral pilots and other persons assembled on the promontory 
called the Look-out at Weymouth. Thence they too 
evidently discovered the distress and danger of many of 
the transports. 

Soon after, a lieutenant of the navy, residing at Wey¬ 
mouth, applied to the major of a militia regiment, for a 
guard to be sent to the Chisell Bank, as a large ship, 
supposed to be a frigate, was on shore. This was im¬ 
mediately granted, and the major himself marched along 
with a captain’s guard. 

The violence of the wind was so great, that the party 
could with difficulty reach the place of their destination. 
There they found a large merchantman, the iEolus, la¬ 
den with timber for government, on shore. Lieutenant 
Mason of the navy, and his brother, a midshipman, pe¬ 
rished in her, and a number of men who would probably 
have been saved had they understood the signals from 
shore. The men of Portland, who crowded down to the 
scene of desolation, meant to express, by throwing small 
pebbles at them, that they should remain on board, (to 
make them hear was impossible,) because they foresaw 
the ship would drive high on the bank. Should that be 
the case, they might soon leave her without hazard ; and 
accordingly those who continued on board were saved, 
though many of them were dreadfully bruised. 

Not far from the same place, the Golden Grove, ano¬ 
ther merchantman, was stranded, and in her Dr. Stevens 
and Mr. Burrows of St. Kits, were lost. 

Lieutenant colonel Ross, who was also there, escaped 
on shore. These two vessels had struck against a part 
of the Passage-house, almost on the same spot where a 
French frigate, the Zenobia, had gone to pieces in 1763. 

But the scene of distress was infinitely greater about 
four miles to the westward, where, as already related, 
the Catharine was wrecked. Along with her, nearly op¬ 
posite to the villages of Fleet and Chickerell, the Pied¬ 
mont and Yenus, two transports, and soon after, the 
Thomas, a merchantman, shared the same fate. 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 


237 


One hundred and thirty-eight soldiers of the 63d regi¬ 
ment, under the command of captain Barcroft, were on 
board the Piedmont; also lieutenant Ash, and Mr. Kelly, 
surgeon of the same regiment. Of all these, only ser¬ 
geant Richardson, eleven privates, and four seamen, 
survived the catastrophe; all the rest perished. 

Captain Barcroft’s life had been passed in the service. 
While yet a very young man, he served in America dur¬ 
ing the war between England and her colonies ; and be¬ 
ing then taken prisoner, was severely treated. On com¬ 
mencement of the war which has so many years deso¬ 
lated Europe, he raised a company in his native country, 
and served with it on the Continent during the campaign 
of 1794. Under a heavy fire of the enemy, he was one 
of the last men who retreated with it along a single 
plank, knee-deep in water, from the seige of Nimeguen. 
In a few months after the disastrous retreat on the Con¬ 
tinent, in the winter 1794, he was ordered to the West 
Indies, and, in the outset of his voyage, perished in the 
tempest. 

Of the few who reached the shore from the Piedmont, 
there was scarce one who was not dreadfully bruised, 
and some had their limbs broken. An unfortunate vete¬ 
ran of the 63d, though his leg was shockingly fractured, 
had sufficient resolution to creep for shelter under a fish¬ 
ing boat which lay inverted on the further side of the 
bank. There his groans were unheard until a young 
gentleman, Mr. Smith, a passenger in the Thomas, 
who had himself been wrecked, and was now wan¬ 
dering along the shore, discovered him. In this ship, 
the Thomas, bound to Oporto, the master, Mr. Brown, 
his son, and all the crew, except the mate, three seamen, 
and Mr. Smith, were lost. The last was on his way to 
Lisbon ; but his preservation was chiefly in consequence 
of his remaining on board after all the rest had left the 
ship, or were washed away by the waves. She had 
then drifted high on the bank, when he leaped out of 
her and reached the ground. 

Though weak and encumbered by his wet clothes, he 
gained the opposite side of the bank, but on gazing on 


238 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the dreary beach around him, he considered himself cast 
away on an uninhabited coast. At length he observed 
a fishing boat, and approaching it, heard the groans of 
the unfortunate old soldier, whom he attempted to re¬ 
lieve. But alone he found himself unable to fulfil his 
intention, and it was a considerable time before he ob¬ 
served any means of assistance near. At last, perceiv¬ 
ing a man at some distance, he hastened to him, eagerly 
inquiring whether a surgeon could be procured for a 
poor creature with a broken limb, who lay under the 
boat. Probably the man showed little alacrity, for Mr. 
Smith found it necessary to purchase his good offices by 
a gift of half a guinea, which he imagined would induce 
him to seek what was so much required. But the man 
pocketing the half-guinea with the greatest composure, 
said he was a king’s officer, and must see what bales of 
goods were driven on shore; then telling Mr. Smith 
there was a ferry about four miles off, by which he 
might get to Weymouth. The youth was thus disap¬ 
pointed of his humane design, and the soldier died in 
that deplorable condition before any other aid attained 
him. 

In the Thomas, the vessel to which Mr. Smith belong¬ 
ed, he witnessed scenes not less distressing. Mr. Brown 
the master of the vessel, was carried away by an im¬ 
mense wave just as he was stripping off his clothes to 
endeavor to save himself. His son exclaiming, “ Oh 
my father ! my poor father !” instantly, followed. The 
bodies of both were afterwards found and interred at 
Wyke. 

Of ninety-six persons on board the Venus, only Mr. 
John Darley of the hospital staff, sergeant-major Hearne, 
twelve soldiers, four seamen and a boy were saved. Mr. 
Darley escaped by throwing himself from the wreck at a 
moment when it drifted high on the stones; he reached 
them without broken limbs, but, overtaken by the furious 
sea, he was carried back, not so far, however, that he 
was incapable of regaining the ground. Notwithstand¬ 
ing the weight of his clothes and his exhausted state, he 
got to the top of the bank, but there the power of farther 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 239 

exertion failed, and he fell. While lying in this situa¬ 
tion, trying to recover breath and strength, a great many 
people from the neighboring villages passed him; they 
had crossed the Fleet-water in the hopes of sharing the 
plunder of the vessels which the lower inhabitants of 
the coast are too much accustomed to consider their 
right. 

Mr. Darley seems to have been so far from meeting 
with assistance from those who were plundering the 
dead, without thinking of the living, that although he 
saw many boats passing and repassing the Fleet-water, 
he found great difficulty in procuring a passage for him¬ 
self and two or three fellow-sufferers who had now joined 
him. But having passed it he soon met with Mr. Bryer, 
to whose active humanity all the sufferers were emi¬ 
nently indebted. 

Before the full extent of this dreadful calamity was 
known at Weymouth, the officers of the South Glouces¬ 
ter Militia, with equal humanity, were devising how 
they might best succor the survivors, and perform the 
last duties to the remains of those who had perished. 
On the morning of the 19th of November, one of them, 
accompanied by Mr. Bryer of Weymouth, rode to the 
villages where those who had escaped from the various 
wrecks had found a temporary shelter. In a house at 
Chickerell, they found sergeant Richardson and eleven 
privates of the 63d regiment; two of the latter had frac¬ 
tured limbs, and almost all the rest either wounds or 
bruises. In other houses the sufferers had been received, 
and were as comfortably accommodated as circumstances 
would admit. 

The gentlemen then crossed the Fleet-water to the 
beach, and there, whatever idea was previously formed 
of it, the horror of the scene infinitely surpassed expec¬ 
tation ; no celebrated field of carnage ever presented, in 
proportion to its size, a more awful sight than the Chisell 
Bank now exhibited. For about two miles it was strew¬ 
ed with the dead bodies of men and animals, with pieces 
of wreck and piles of plundered goods, which groups of 
people were carrying away, regardless of the sight of 


240 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

drowned bodies that filled the new spectators with sor¬ 
row and amazement. 

On the mangled remains of the unfortunate victims, 
death appeared in all its hideous forms. Either the sea 
or the people who had first gone down to the shore, had 
stripped the bodies of the clothes which the sufferers had 
wore at the fatal moment. The remnants of the military 
stock, the wristbands, or collar of a shirt, or a piece of 
blue pantaloons, were all the fragments left behind. 

The only means of distinguishing the officers was the 
different appearance of their hands from those of men ac¬ 
customed to hard labor; but some were known by the 
description given of them by their friends or by persons 
who were in the vessels along with them. The remains 
of captain Barcroft were recognised by the honorable scars 
he had received in the service of his country; and his 
friends and relatives, as well as those of several others 
had the satisfaction of learning that their bodies were 
rescued from the sea, and interred with military honors. 

Early in the morning of the 20th of November, a lieu¬ 
tenant of the militia regiment who had been appointed 
to superintend the melancholy office of interment, re¬ 
paired to the scene of destruction. But from the neces¬ 
sary preliminaries of obtaining the authority of a magis¬ 
trate to remove the bodies, not more than twenty-five 
were buried that day. The bodies of captain Barcroft, 
lieutenant Sutherland, Cornet Graydon, lieutenant Ker 
and two women, were then selected to be put into coffins. 
Next day, those of lieutenant Jenner and Cornet Burns, 
being found, were distinguished in the like manner. 

The whole number of dead found on the beach, 
amounted to two hundred and thirty-four; so that the 
duty of interment, was so heavy and fatiguing, that it 
was not until the twenty-third that all the soldiers and 
sailors were deposited. Of these there were two hun¬ 
dred and eight, and they were committed to the earth as 
decently as circumstances would admit, in graves dug 
on the Fleet side of the beach, beyond the reach of the 
sea, where a pile of stones was raised on each, to mark 
where they lay. Twelve coffins were sent to receive 


LOSS OF THREE MERCHANT SHIPS. 


241 


the bodies of the women, but nine only being found, the 
supernumerary ones were appointed to receive the re¬ 
mains of the officers. 

Two wagons were next sent to the Fleet-water to re¬ 
ceive the coffins, in which the shrouded bodies of seven¬ 
teen officers and nine women had been placed, and on 
the 24th were carried to the church-yard at Wyke, pre¬ 
ceded by a captain, subaltern and fifty men of the Glou¬ 
cester Militia, and attended by the young gentleman be¬ 
fore mentioned, Mr. Smith, as chief mourner. The offi¬ 
cers were interred in a large grave, north of the church- 
tower, with military honors, and lieutenant Ker in a 
grave on the other side of the tower. The remains of 
the nine women, which had been deposited in the church 
during the ceremony, were next committed to the earth. 

Two monuments have been erected in commemora¬ 
tion of the unfortunate sufferers, the first bearing the 
following inscription:— 

“ To the memory of Captain Ambrose William Bar- 
croft, Lieutenant Harry Ash, and Mr. Kelly, surgeon of 
the 63d regiment of Light Infantry; of Lieutenant Ste¬ 
phen Jenner, of the 6th West-India regiment; Lieutenant 
Stains of the 2d West India regiment; and two hundred 
and fifteen soldiers and seamen and nine women, who 
perished by shipwreck on Portland Beach, opposite the 
villages of Langton, Fleet, and Chickerell, on Wednes¬ 
day the 18th day of November, 1795.” 

On the second monument is inscribed, 

“ Sacred to the memory of Major John Charles Ker, 
Military Commandant of Hospitals in the Leeward 
Islands, and to that of his son, Lieutenant James Ker, 
of the 40th regiment of foot, who both departed this life 
on the 18th of November, 1795, the first aged forty and 
the latter fourteen years.” 

The fate of both was truly deplorable, and is a me¬ 
lancholy example of the uncertainty of human affairs. 

They were embarked in the Venus transport, and left 
Portsmouth the 16th of November, with a fleet full of 
troops, destined to the West Indies, under the command 
of General Sir Ralph Abercrombie. 

21 


242 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


A storm having arisen on the 17th which lasted till 
the next day, many of the ships were lost, and the Venus 
wrecked on Portland Beach. 

The major’s body could not be found, although it is 
possible it may have been among the many others which 
were driven ashore and buried in this church-yard. 

His son’s corpse was recognised and lies interred under 
this stone, which was raised by his brother, John Wil¬ 
liam Ker, Esq. 


WRECK OF THE BRITISH SHIP SIDNEY. 

On a reef of rocks in the South Sea. 

The Sidney left Port Jackson, on the coast of New Hol¬ 
land, on the 12th of April, 1806, bound to Bengal. In¬ 
tending to proceed through Dampier’s Straits, her course 
was directed as nearly as possible in the track of Captain 
Hogan, of the Cornwallis, which, as laid down in the 
charts, appeared a safe and easy passage. But, on the 
20th of May, at one, A. M., we ran upon a most danger¬ 
ous rock, or shoal, in 3 20 south latitude, and 146 50 east 
longitude, and as this reef is not noticed in any map or 
chart, it appears that we were its unfortunate discov¬ 
erers. 

On Sunday, 25 fathoms of water were found over 
the talfrail, and six fathoms over the larboard gang¬ 
way ; only nine feet on the starboard side, and 12 feet 
over the bows. One of the boats was immediately got 
out with a bower-anchor; but on sounding, at the dis¬ 
tance of ten fathoms from the ship, no ground could be 
found with sixty fathoms of line. 

When she struck it must have been high water, for at 
that time there was no appearance of any reef or breaker; 
but as the water subsided, the shoal began to show itself, 
with a number of small black rocks. The ship had 
been striking very hard, and began to yield forward.— 
At three, A. M. there were six feet water in the hold. 



WRECK OF THE BRITISH SHIP SIDNEY. 243 

and increasing rapidly ; at five, the vessel was settling 
aft, and her top-sides parting from the floor-heads. 

Upon consultation with my officers, it was our unani¬ 
mous opinion that the ship was gone beyond recovery, 
and that no exertions could avail for her safety. We 
therefore employed all hands in getting the boats ready 
to receive the crew, who were 108 in number. Eight 
bags of rice, six casks of water, and a small quantity of 
salted beef and pork, were put into the long-boat as pro¬ 
visions for the whole; the number of the people prevented 
us from taking a larger stock, as the three boats were 
barely sufficient to receive us all with safety. 

We remained with the Sidney until five, P. M. on the 
twenty-first of May, when there were three feet of water 
on the orlop-deck; therefore we now thought it full time 
to leave the ship to her fate, and seek our safety in the 
boats. Accordingly, I embarked in the long-boat with 
Mr. Trounce, second officer, and seventy-four Lascars; 
Mr. Robson and Mr. Halkart, with sixteen Lascars, were 
in the cutter, and the jolly-boat was allotted to fifteen 
Dutch Malays, and one Sepoy. 

Being desirous to ascertain the position of the reef, 
which could be done by making the Admiralty Islands, 
our course was shaped thither, steering north by east 
and half east. During the night, it blew fresh, and the 
long-boat having made much water, we were obliged to 
lighten her, by throwing a great deal of lumber, and two 
casks of water, overboard. The three boats kept close 
in company, the long-boat having the jolly-boat in tow. 

Finding, at day-light, that the cutter sailed considera¬ 
bly better, I directed Mr. Robson that the jolly-boat 
might be taken in tow by her. But the wind increasing 
as the morning advanced, and a heavy swell rising, the 
jolly-boat, while in tow by the cutter, sank at ten o’¬ 
clock, and all on board, to the number of sixteen, perish¬ 
ed. It was lamentable to witness the fate of these un¬ 
happy men, and the more so, as it was not in our power 
to render them the smallest assistance. 

The Admiralty Islands were seen at noon of the 22d, 
bearing N. N. E. three or four leagues distant, and as we 


244 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


had run about fifty-eight miles in the boats, upon a N. by 
E. half E. course, the situation of the shoal where the 
Sidney struck was accurately ascertained, and will be 
found as above laid down. 

From the Admiralty Islands, we continued standing to 
the westward, and on the 25th, made a small island, on 
' which, from its appearance, I was induced to land in 
quest of a supply of water. Therefore Mr. Robson, my¬ 
self, and twenty of our best hands, armed with heavy 
clubs, brought from New Caledonia, (our fire-arms being 
rendered useless from exposure to the rain) landed 
through a high surf, to the utmost astonishment of the 
inhabitants. 

As far as might be judged, they had never before seen 
people of our complexion. The men were tall and well 
made, wearing their hair plaited and raised above the 
head; they had no resemblance to Malays or Caffres;— 
and excepting their color, which was of a light copper, 
they had the form and features of Europeans. They 
were entirely naked. We also saw a number of women, 
who were well formed, and had mild and pleasing fea¬ 
tures. 

We were received on the beach by about twenty na¬ 
tives, who immediately supplied each of us with a cocoa- 
nut. We succeeded in making them understand that 
we wanted water, on which they made signs for us to 
accompany them to the interior of the island; on com¬ 
pliance, after walking about a mile, they conducted us 
into a thick jungle, and, as their number was quickly 
increasing, I judged it imprudent to proceed further.— 
Thus returning to the beach, I was alarmed to find that 
one hundred and fifty, or more, of the natives had assem¬ 
bled, armed with spears eight or ten feet long. One of 
them, an old man of venerable appearance, and who 
seemed to be their chief, approached and threw his 
spear at my feet, expressive, as I understood, of his wish 
that we should part with our clubs in like manner. Per¬ 
ceiving, at this time, that a crowd of women had got hold 
of the stern-fast of the cutter, and were endeavoring to 
haul her on shore from the grapnel, we hastily tried to 


wreck of the British ship Sidney. 245 

gam the boat. The natives followed us closely; some of 
them pointed their spears at us as we retreated, and 
some were thrown, though happily without effect; and 
to us they seemed to be very inexpert in the management 
of their weapons. On my getting into the water, three 
or four of the natives followed me, threatening to throw 
their spears, and when I was within reach of the boat, 
one of them made a thrust, which was prevented from 
taking effect by Mr. Robson, who warded off the wea¬ 
pon. When we had got into the boat, and were putting 
off, they threw, at least, two hundred spears, none of 
which struck, excepting one, which gave a severe wound 
to my cook, entering immediately above the jaw, and 
passing through his mouth. 

Having escaped this perilous adventure we pursued 
our course, and got as far as Dampier’s Straits, in as fa¬ 
vorable circumstances as our situation cquld well admit* 
But the Lascars, now being within reach of land, became 
impatient to be put on shore. It was in vain that I ex¬ 
horted them to persevere ; they would not listen to argu¬ 
ment, and expressed their wish rather to meet with im¬ 
mediate death on shore, than to be starved to death in 
the boats. Yielding to their importunity, I at length de¬ 
termined to land them on the northwest extremity of the 
island of Ceram, from whence they might travel to Am- 
boyna in two or three days. Being off that part of the 
island on the ninth of June, Mr. Robson volunteered to 
land a portion of the people in the cutter, to return to the 
long-boat, and the cutter to be then given up to such 
further portion of the crew as chose to join the party 
first landed. Accordingly he went ashore with the cut¬ 
ter, but to my great mortification, after waiting two days, 
there was no appearance of his return or of the cutter. 

We concluded that the people had been detained either 
by the Dutch or the natives. Yet as the remaining part 
of the Lascars were desirous to be landed, we stood-in 
with the long-boat, and put them on shore near the point 
where we supposed the cutter to have landed her people. 

Our number in the long-boat were now reduced to se¬ 
venteen, consisting of Mr. Trounce, Mr. Halkart, my- 
21 * 


246 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


self and fourteen Lascars and others. Our stock of pro 
vision was two bags of rice and one gang cask ef water, 
with which we conceived we might hold out until reach¬ 
ing Bencoolen, whither we determined to make the best 
of our way. The allowance to each man we fixed as 
one tea-cupful of rice and a pint of water daily, but we 
soon found it necessary to make a considerable reduc¬ 
tion. 

Proceeding through the straits of Bantam, we met in our 
course several Malay prows, none of which took notice 
of us. excepting one, which gave chase for a day, and 
would have come up with us had we not got off under 
cover of a very dark night. Continuing onwards, we 
passed through the strait of Saypay, where we caught a 
large shark. Our spirits were much elated by this valu¬ 
able prize, which we lost no time in getting on board; 
and having kindled a fire in the bottom of the boat, it 
was roasted with all expedition. Such was the keen¬ 
ness of our appetite, that although the shark must have 
weighed one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty 
pounds, not a vestige of it remained at the close of the 
day. But we were afflicted on the following day with 
the most violent complaint of the stomach and bowels, 
which reduced us exceedingly, and left us languid and 
spiritless, insomuch that we now despaired of safety. 

On the second of July, I lost an old and faithful ser¬ 
vant, who died from want of sustenance; and on the 
fourth, we made Java head ; at the same time catching 
two large boobies, which afforded all hands a most pre¬ 
cious and refreshing meal. At midnight of the ninth, 
we came to off Pulo Penang, on the west coast of Suma¬ 
tra; but at daylight, when endeavoring to weigh our 
anchor and run close in shore, we were so much ex¬ 
hausted that our united strength proved insufficient to 
get it up. 

On a signal of distress being made, a sanpan with two 
Malays came off, and as I was the only person in the 
long-boat who had sufficient strength to move, I accom¬ 
panied them on shore. However, I found myself so 
weak on landing that I fell to the ground, and it was 


U RECK OF THE BRITISH SHIP SIDNEY. 247 

necessary to carry me to an adjacent house. Such re¬ 
freshments as could be procured were immediately sent 
off to the long-boat, and we recruited so rapidly, that in 
two days we found ourselves in a condition to proceed 
on our voyage. Having weighed anchor on the 12th of 
July, we set sail, and on the 19th, arrived off the island 
of Bencoolen. 

Here I met with an old friend, captain Chauvet of the 
Perseverance, whose kindness and humanity I shall ever 
remember and gratefully acknowledge. On the day 
subsequent to my arrival, I waited on Mr. Parr the resi¬ 
dent, from whom I received every attention. 

Leaving Bencoolen on the 17th of August, in the Per¬ 
severance, I arrived at Penang on the 27th, where 1 was 
agreea-hly surprised to meet my late chief-mate, Mr. Rob¬ 
son, who, along with the Lascars, had landed at Ceram. 
They reached Amboyna in safety, where they were re¬ 
ceived by the Dutch governor, Mr. Cranstoun, with a 
humanity and benevolence that reflect honor on his cha¬ 
racter. He supplied them with whatever their wants 
required. Mr. Robson was accommodated at his own 
table, and, on leaving Amboyna, he furnished him money 
for himself and his people, for the amount of which he 
refused to take any receipt or acknowledgment. He also 
gave Mr. Robson letters to the governor-general of Ba¬ 
tavia, recommending him to his kind offices. Such 
honorable conduct from the governor of a foreign country, 
and with which we were at war, cannot be too widely 
promulgated. From Amboyna, Mr. Robson embarked 
in the Pallas, a Dutch frigate, for Batavia, which on the 
passage thither was captured by his majesty’s ships 
Greyhound and Harriet, and brought to Prince of Wales’ 
island. 

From Penang I sailed to Bengal with the Paruna, 
captain Denison, and arrived safely in Calcutta in the 
beginning of May, 1806. % 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES IN THE ATLANTIC 
OCEAN. 


Admiral (afterwards Lord) Graves having requested 
leave to return to England in 1782, was appointed by 
lord Rodney to command the convoy sent home with the 
numerous fleet of merchantmen from the West Indies in 
the month of July. He accordingly hoisted his flag on 
board the Ramillies, of seventy-four guns, and sailed on 
the 25th from Blue Fields, having under his orders the 
Canada and Centaur of seventy-four guns each, the Pallas 
frigate of thirty-six guns, and the following French 
ships, taken by lord Rodney and Sir Samuel Hood, out 
of the armament commanded by the count de Grasse, 
viz. the Yille de Paris, of one hundred and ten guns ; the 
Glorieux and Hector, of seventy-four guns each; the 
Ardent, Caton, and Jason, of six guns each. Those 
which were originally British ships had been in so many 
actions, and so long absent from England, as to have 
become extremely out of condition, while that of the 
prizes was still more deplorable, and the following au¬ 
thentic account of the various disasters which attended 
this distressed convoy will be found equally melancholy 
and interesting. 

Soon after the fleet had sailed, the officers of the Ar¬ 
dent united in signing such a representation of her mise¬ 
rable plight as induced admiral Graves to order her back 
to Port Royal; and the Jason, by not putting to sea with 
the convoy, from want of water, never joined him at all. 
The rest proceeded, and after those vessels that were 
bound for New York had separated, the whole convoy 
was reduced to ninety-two or three sail. 

On the 8th of September the Caton springing a leak, 
made such alarming complaints, that the admiral direct¬ 
ed her and the Pallas, also became leaky, to bear away 
immediately, and keep company together, making for 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES. 


249 


Halifax, which then bore N. N. W. and was but eighty- 
seven leagues distant. 

The afternoon of the 16th of September showing indi¬ 
cations of a gale and foul weather from the south-east 
quarter, every preparation was made on board the flag¬ 
ship for such an event, not only on account of her own 
safety, but also as an example to the rest of the fleet. 
The admiral collected the ships about six o’clock, and 
brought to under his mainsail on the larboard tack, hav¬ 
ing all his other sails furled, and his top-gallant yards 
and masts lowered down. 

The wind soon increasing, blew strong from the E. S. 
E. with a very heavy sea, and about three o’clock in the 
morning of the 17th flew suddenly round to the contrary 
point, blowing most tremendously, and accompanied 
with rain, thunder, and lightning; the Ramillies was 
taken by the lee, her main-sail thrown back, her main¬ 
mast went by the board, and mizzen-mast half way up; 
the fore-top mast fell over the starboard bow, the fore¬ 
yard broke in the slings, the tiller snapped in two, and 
the rudder was nearly torn off. Thus was this capital 
ship, from being in perfect order, reduced, within a few 
minutes,to a mere wreck, by the fury of the blast and 
the violence of the sea, which acted in opposition to each 
other. The ship was pooped, the cabin, where the ad¬ 
miral lay,was flooded, his cot-bed jerked down by the 
violence of the shock and the ship’s instantaneous revul¬ 
sion, so that he was obliged to pull on his boots half leg 
deep in water, without any stockings, to huddle on his 
wet clothes, and repair upon deck. On his first coming 
thither, he ordered two of the lieutenants to examine in¬ 
to the state of the affairs below, and to keep a sufficient 
number of people at the pumps, while he himself and the 
captain kept the deck, to encourage the men to clear 
away the wreck, which, by its constant swinging back¬ 
wards and forwards by every wave against the body of 
the ship, had beaten off much of the copper from the 
starboard side, and exposed the seams so much to the 
sea that the decayed oakum washed out, and the whole 
frame became at once exceedingly porous and leaky. 


250 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


At dawn of day they perceived a large ship lying un¬ 
der their lee, upon her side, water-logged, her hands 
attempting to wear her by first cutting away the miz- 
zen-mast, and then her main-mast; hoisting her en¬ 
sign, with the union downwards in order to draw the at¬ 
tention of the fleet; but to no purpose, for no succor 
could be given, and she very soon went down head fore¬ 
most, the fly of her ensign being the last thing visible. 
This was the Dutton, formerly an East Indiaman, and 
then a store-ship, commanded by a lieutenant of the 
navy, who in his agitation, leaped from her deck into 
the sea; but, as might be expected, was very soon over¬ 
whelmed by its billows. Twelve or thirteen of the crew 
contrived, however, to slide off one of the boats, and 
running with the wind, first endeavored to reach a large 
ship before them, which, not being able to fetch, and 
afraid of filling if they attempted to haul up for the pur¬ 
pose, they made up for another ship more to the leeward, 
who fortunately descrying them, threw a number of 
ropes, by the help of which these desperate fellows 
scrambled up her sides, and fortunately saved their 
lives. Out of ninety four or five sail, seen the day be¬ 
fore, scarcely twenty could now be counted ; of the ships 
of war, there were discerned the Canada, half hull down 
upon the lee-quarter, having her main-top-mast and 
mizzen-mast gone, the main-top damaged, the main- 
yard aloft, and the main-sail furled; the Centaur was 
far to windward, without masts, bowsprit, or rudder; 
and the Glorieux without foremast, bowsprit, or main¬ 
top-mast. Of these the two latter perished with all their 
crews, excepting the captain of the Centaur, and a few 
of his people, who contrived to slip off her stern into one 
of the boats unnoticed, and thus escaped the fate of the 
rest of the crew. 

The Ville de Paris appeared to have received no in¬ 
jury, and was commanded by a most experienced sea¬ 
man, who had made twenty-four voyages to and from 
the West Indies, and had, therefore, been pitched upon 
to lead the ship through the gulf; nevertheless she was 
afterwards buried in the ocean with all on board he*, 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES. 


251 


consisting of above eight hundred people. Of the con¬ 
voy, besides the Dutton, before mentioned, and the Bri¬ 
tish Q,ueen, seven others were discovered without masts 
or bowsprits; eighteen lost masts, and several others had 
foundered. 

In the course of this day the Canada crossed upon and 
passed the Ramillies; some of the trade attempted to 
follow the Canada, but she ran at such a rate that they 
soon found it to be in vain, and then returned towards 
the flag-ship; the Ramillies had at this time six feet 
water in her hold, and the pumps would not free her, 
the water having worked out the oakum, and her beams 
amid-ship being almost drawn from their clamps. 

The admiral, therefore, gave orders for all the buckets 
to be manned, and every officer to help towards freeing 
the ship; the mizzen-top-sail was set upon the fore-mast, 
the main-top-gallant-sail on the stump of the mizzen¬ 
mast, and the tiller shipped. In this condition, by bear¬ 
ing away, she scudded on at so good a rate that she held 
pace with some of the merchantmen. 

The day having been spent in bailing and pumping, 
without materially gaining on the water, the captain, in 
the name of the officers, represented to the admiral the 
necessity of parting with the guns for the relief of the 
ship, but he objected, that there would then be left no 
protection for the convoy. At length, however, after 
great difficulty, he consented to their disposing of the 
fore-castle and after-most quarter-deck guns, together 
with some of the shot, and other articles of very great 
weight. The ensuing night was employed in bailing 
and endeavoring to make the pumps useful, for the bal¬ 
last,by getting into the well, had choked and rendered 
them useless, and the chains had broken every time they 
were repaired. The water had risen to seven feet in 
the hold. The wind from the westward drove a vast 
sea before it, and the ship being old, strained most vio- 
lently. 

On the morning of the 18th, nothing could be seen of 
the Canada, she having pushed on at her greatest speed 
for England. The frame of the Ramillies having opened 


252 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


during the night, the admiral was prevailed upon, by 
the renewed and pressing remonstrances of the officers, 
although with great reluctance, to let six of the forward- 
most and four of the aftermost guns of the main-deck to 
be thrown overboard, together with the remainder of 
those on the quarter-deck; and the ship still continuing 
to open very much, he ordered tarred canvas and hides 
to be nailed fore and aft from under the sills of the ports 
on the main-deck under the fifth plank above, or within 
the water-ways, and the crew, without orders,did the 
same on the lower deck. Her increasing complaints re¬ 
quiring still more to be done, the admiral directed all the 
guns on the upper deck, the shot, both on that and the 
lower deck, and various heavy stores to be thrown over¬ 
board; a leakage in the light room of the grand maga¬ 
zine having almost filled the ship forward, and there 
being eight feet water in the magazine, every gentleman 
was compelled to take his turn at the whips, or in hand¬ 
ing the buckets. The ship was besides frapped from the 
fore-mast to the mainmast. 

Notwithstanding their utmost efforts the water still 
gained on them;the succeeding night, the wind blowing 
very hard, with extremely heavy squalls, a part of the 
orlop-deck fell into the hold; the ship herself seemed to 
work excessively, and to settle forward. 

On the morning of the 19th, under these very alarm¬ 
ing circumstances, the admiral commanded both the 
bower-anchors to be cut away, all the junk to be flung 
overboard, one sheet and one bower cable to be reduced 
to junk and served the same way, together with every 
remaining ponderous store that could be got at, and ail 
the powder in the grand magazine (it being damaged ;) 
the cutter and pinnace to be broken up and tossed over¬ 
board, the skidds having already worked off the side ; 
every soul on board was now employed in bailing. One 
of the pumps was got up, but to no purpose, for the shot- 
lockers being broken down, some of the shot., as well as 
the ballast, had fallen into the well; and as the wea¬ 
ther moderated a little, every thing was made ready to 
heave the lower deck guns into the sea, the admiral"be- 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES. 253 

ing anxious to leave nothing undone for the relief of the 
ship. 

When evening approached, there being twenty mer¬ 
chant ships in sight, the officers united in beseeching 
him to go into one of them, but this he positively refused 
to do, deeming it, as he declared, unj ardonable in a 
commander-in-chief to desert his garrison in distress j 
that his living a few years longer was of very little con¬ 
sequence, but that, by leaving his ship at such a time, 
he should discourage and slacken the exertions of the 
people, by setting a very bad example. The wind lull¬ 
ing somewhat during the night; all hands bailed the wa¬ 
ter, which, at this time, was six feet fore and aft. 

On the morning of the 20th, the admiral ordered the 
the spare and stream anchors to be cut away, and with¬ 
in the course of the day all the lower deck guns to be 
thrown overboard. When evening came, the spirits of 
the people in general, and even of the most courageous, 
began to fail, and they openly expressed the utmost des¬ 
pair, together with the most earnest desire of quitting 
the ship, lest they should founder in her. The admiral 
hereupon advanced and told them, that he and their 
officers had an equal regard for their own lives, and that 
the officers had no intention of deserting either them or 
the ship; that, for his part, he was determined to try one 
night more in her; he, therefore, hoped and entreated 
they would do so too, for there was still room to imagine, 
that one fair day, with a moderate sea, might enable 
them, by united exertions, to clear and secure the well 
against the encroaching ballast which washed into it; 
that if this could be done, they might be able to restore 
the chains to the pumps, and use them; and that then 
hands enough might be spared to raise jury-masts, with 
which they might carry the ship to Ireland; that her 
appearance alone, while she could swim, would be suffi¬ 
cient to protect the remaining part of her convoy; above 
all, that as every thing that could be thought of had now 
been done for her relief, it would be but reasonable to wait 
the effect. He concluded with assuring them, that he 
would make the signal directly for the trade to lie by 
22 


254 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


them during the night, which he doubted not they waulv 
comply with. 

This temperate speech had the desired effect; the 
firmness and confidence with which he spoke, and theii 
reliance on his seamanship and judgment, as well as his 
constant presence and attention to every accident, had a 
wonderful effect upon them; they became pacified, and 
returned to their duty and their labors. Since the first 
disaster, the admiral had, in fact, scarcely ever quitted 
the deck; this they had all observed, together with his 
diligence in personally inspecting every circumstance of 
distress. Knowing his skill and experience, they placed 
great confidence in them; and he instantly made, ac¬ 
cording to his promise, a signal for all the merchantmen. 

At this period, it must be confessed, there was great 
reason for alarm, and but little for hope ; for all the an¬ 
chors and guns, excepting one, together with every other 
matter of weight, had been thrown overboard, and yet 
the ship did not seem at all relieved. The strength of 
the people was, likewise, so nearly exhausted, having 
had no sleep since the first fatal stroke, that one half of 
the crew were ordered to bail and the other to repose; 
so that, although the wind was much abated, the water 
still gained upon them, in spite of all their efforts, and 
the ship rolled and worked most prodigiously in a most 
unquiet sea. 

At three in the morning of the 21st, being the fourth 
night, the well being quite broken in, the casks, ballast 
and remaining shot rushed together and destroyed the 
cylinders of the pumps; the frame and carcass of the 
ship began to give way in every part, and the whole 
crew exclaimed that it was impossible to keep her any 
longer above water. 

In this extremity, the admiral resolved within himself 
not to lose a moment in removing the people whenever 
daylight should arrive, but told the captain not to com¬ 
municate any more of his design than that he intended 
to remove the sick and lame at day-break; and for this 
purpose he should call on board all the boats of the mer¬ 
chantmen. He, nevertheless, gave private orders to the 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES. 


255 


captain, while this was doing, to have all the bread 
brought upon the quarter-deck, with a quantity of beef, 
pork, and flour, to settle the best distribution of the peo¬ 
ple according to the number of the trade-ships that should 
obey their signal, and to allow an officer to each division 
of them ; to have the remaining boats launched, and as 
soon as the sick were disposed of, to begin to remove the 
whole of the crew, with the utmost despatch, but with¬ 
out risking too many in a boat. 

Accordingly at dawn, the signal was made for the 
boats of the merchantmen, but nobody suspected what 
was to follow, until the bread was entirely removed and 
the sick gone. About six o’clock, the rest of the crew 
were permitted to go off, and between nine and ten, there 
being nothing further to direct and regulate, the admiral 
himself, after shaking hands with every officer, and leav¬ 
ing his barge for their better accommodation and trans¬ 
port, quitted forever the Ramillies, which had then nine 
feet of water in her hold. He went into a small leaky 
boat, loaded with bread, out of which both him and 
the surgeon who accompanied him were obliged to bail 
water all the way. He was in his boots, with his sur- 
tout over his uniform, and his countenance as calm and as 
composed as ever. He had, at going off, desired a cloak, 
a cask of flour and a cask of water, but could get only 
the flour, and he left behind all his stock, wines, furniture, 
books and charts, which had cost him upwards of one 
thousand pounds, being unwilling to employ even a single 
servant in saving or packing up what belonged to him¬ 
self alone, in a time of such general calamity, as to ap¬ 
pear better in that respect than any of the crew. 

The admiral rowed for the Belle, Captain Forster, be¬ 
ing the first of the trade that had borne up to the Ramil- 
lies the preceding night in her imminent distress, and by 
his anxious humanity set such an example to his brother 
traders as had a powerful ipfluence upon them—an influ¬ 
ence which was generally followed by sixteen others. 

By three o’clock, most of the crew were taken out, at 
which time the Ramillies had thirteen feet of water in 
her hold, and was evidently foundering in every part; at 


256 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


half past four the captain, and first and third lieutenants, 
left her, with every sou] excepting the fourth lieutenant, 
who staid behind only to execute the admiral’s orders for 
setting fire to her wreck when finally deserted. The 
carcass burned rapidly, and the flames quickly reaching 
the powder which was filled in the after-magazine, and 
had been lodged very high ; in thirty-five minutes the 
decks and upper works blew up with a horrid explosion 
and cloud of smoke, while the lower part of the hull was 
precipitated to the bottom of the ocean. 

All this time the admiral, in the Belle, stood for the 
wreck to see his last orders executed, as well as to suc¬ 
cor any boats that might be too full of men, the swell 
of the sea being prodigious, although the weather had 
been moderate ever since noon of the foregoing day. 
There were, however, at intervals, some squalls, with 
threats of the weather soon becoming violent. It was 
not long before they were realized, for within two 
hours after the last of the crew were put on board their 
respective ships, the wind rose to a great height, and so 
continued, with intermission, for six or seven successive 
days, so that no boat could, during that time, have lived 
in the water. On such a small interval depended the 
salvation of more than six hundred lives ! Indeed, dur¬ 
ing the four days immediately preceding this catastrophe, 
it blew such a strong gale, and such a heavy sea followed 
the Ramillies, that it was always necessary to keep her 
with the wind upon her quarter, with seldom more than 
the sprit-sail hoisted upon her foremast, and at times 
with no sail at all, in which state she would run at the 
rate of six miles an hour. Whenever the main-top-gal¬ 
lant-sail was set on the stump of the mizzen-mast she 
commonly griped so much, as to render the steerage 
very difficult, and yet this had been carried, whenever it 
could be, in order to keep pace with the merchantmen, the 
slowest of which went nearly as fast under their bare 
poles. 

Even in running thus, the Ramillies rolled prodigiously, 
and as she grew lighter every day her motion became 
the more uneasy, so that the men could scarcely stand to 


LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES. 


257 


their work or keep their legs without something to lay hold 
by. There was no such thing as real repose for them when 
sitting or lying down upon deck, nor steadiness enough 
to eat or drink with any security; no meat could be 
dressed, nor did any man or officer go into bed. Until 
the afternoon of the 20th, there was no venturing to bring 
her to, even for a boat to come on board; but notwith¬ 
standing this desperate condition, when some were hour¬ 
ly dropping through fatigue and want of sleep, and the 
decks were covered with water, the whole of the crew 
behaved with the utmost obedience, attention and sobri¬ 
ety, and omitted no possible exertion for the preserva¬ 
tion of the ship. 

Upon their separation taking place, the officers, who 
were distributed with portions‘of the crew among ,the 
Jamaica-men, had orders respectively to deliver them to 
the first man-of-war or tender they should meet with, 
and to acquaint the Secretary of the Admiralty, by the 
earliest opportunity, of their proceedings. A pendant 
was hoisted on board the Belle, by way of distinction, 
that she might, if possible, lead the rest. Some of the 
trade kept with her, and others made the best of their 
way, apprehensive lest they should soon fall short of 
provisions, as they had so many more to feed. 

The Silver-Eel transport, which had sailed from Blue- 
fields with the invalids of Sir George Rodney’s fleet, and 
was under the command of a lieutenant of the navy, 
had been ordered to keep near the Ramillies. That ship 
was accordingly at hand on the 21st of September, the day 
of her destruction, and in consequence of several deaths 
on the passage had room enough for the reception of all who 
were now ailing or maimed, and was therefore charged 
with them, being properly fitted for their accommodation. 

The Silver-Eel parted from the admiral in latitude 42 
48 N. and longitude 45 10 W. after seeing the Ramillies 
demolished, and being ordered to make for the first port, 
ran into Falmouth the 6th of October, on the afternoon 
of which day, one of the trade-ships, with a midship¬ 
man and sixteen of the crew of the Ramillies, reached 
Plymouth sound. Another of the same convoy, having 


258 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


on board another part of the crew, with the captain and 
first lieutenant, anchored in the same place before day- 
light the next morning. The Canada, however, having 
exerted her utmost speed, had, prior to all these, on the 
4th of the same month, got to Portsmouth, where she 
spread the news of the dispersion of this miserable fleet, 
which being conveyed to France, her privateers immedi¬ 
ately put to sea in hopes of making prizes of them. Some 
of the Jamaica-men, with part of the crew of the Ramil- 
lies, fell into their hands ; two of theWest Indiamen were 
captured in sight of the Belle, but she herself with the 
admiral and thirty-three of his crew, arrived safe, though 
singly, on the 10th of October, in Cork harbor, where 
was the Myrmidon frigate. The Admiral immediately 
hoisted his flag on board the latter, and sailing with the 
first fair wind, arrived, on the 17th, in Plymouth Sound, 
apparently in good health, but with a settled oppression 
upon his breast, from having been so long and so dread¬ 
fully exposed upon the deck of the Ramillies in the hor¬ 
rid night when she was first overtaken by the storm; 
nor could he remove that complaint for upwards of six 
months. He brought away with him nothing but a few 
of his private papers, the rest of his effects having shared 
the same fate as the ship. 

It was calculated that by the destruction of the fleet, 
upwards of twenty one thousand and five hundred persons 
perished. The loss of property has been estimated by 
the British Government to be upwards of £20,000,000. 
The gale, which continued for six days, was the most 
tremendous one on record 


PRESERVATION OF NINE MEN, 

IN A SMALL BOAT, SURROUNDED BY ISLANDS OF ICE. 

We sailed from Plymouth under convoy of H. B. Ma¬ 
jesty’s ship St. Alban’s, and two other ships of war, to- 



PRESERVATION OF NINE MEN. 259 

gether with a fleet of merchantmen bound to the Medi¬ 
terranean, having a fresh gale at north-east. 

The wind still continuing, we kept company with the 
fleet until reaching 120 leagues to the westward; then 
judging ourselves clear of privateers, we proceeded on 
our voyage. But before gaining 300 leagues, on the 17th 
of March, we came up with an English-built ship of 
about 200 tons, carrying twelve guns, and sailing under 
a jury main-mast. On our approach she hoisted Eng¬ 
lish colors; and, on being hailed, told us she belonged to 
London, and was now bound from Virginia homewards, 
which seemed probable, as many tame fowl were on 
board; and a red bird flew from her to us. 

Our captain seeing the vessel disabled, desired her to 
bring to; saying, if any thing was wanted on board, we 
should hoist out our boat and carry it thither; but this 
was obstinately refused; the captain declared, that our 
boat should not approach, and unless we kept further off, 
he would fire into us. This induced suspicion on our 
part, wherefore we ran up with the vessel, and command¬ 
ed her to bring to. On this she fired, and engaged us 
from eleven in the morning until six in the evening; then, 
being much damaged, she struck, and called to us to save 
the lives of the crew. But this request came too late, 
for the wind increasing, raised a great sea, which forced 
our ship under a reefed main-sail, whence we could not 
hoist out our boat, without endangering our own lives. 
However, by means of a light which she carried, we kept 
close to her, intending to hoist the boat out when it be¬ 
came practicable. But towards midnight her light be¬ 
came very low; and by a loud cry, which was heard 
about one o’clock, we judged that she foundered. 

When the vessel struck she told us that she had four¬ 
teen Frenchmen on board, whence we conjectured her to 
be an English Virginia-man taken by the French; and 
that she had lost her main-mast in the engagement. We 
followed her chasing and fighting, about thirty leagues; 
and when she struck we were in 45 50 north latitude. 

Our booty being thus lost, we made the best of our 
way to Newfoundland, being bound thither on a fishing 


260 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


voyage. One trouble, however, seldom comes alone, and 
so it happened to us ; for on the 26th of March, we saw 
some shattered ice, at four in the afternoon, which was 
supposed to be the harbor ice now broken up. We were 
now in 46 50 north latitude, and conceived ourselves fifty 
leagues, though it afterwards proved seventy, from the 
land. The wind being at east, the top-sails were handed; 
and we stood northward, under our courses, hoping to 
get clear of the ice before night. But finding rather 
more than less, we tacked to the Southward, which was 
found unproductive of any change. Therefore, for fur¬ 
ther security, the fore-sail was furled, and the ship brought 
to under the mainsail, as night approached, and as there 
was a dead wind, so that we could lie off on either tack ; 
we trusted if we should fall in with the greater ice, to meet 
with the less shocks. 

About eight or nine o’clock, we discovered a field of 
ice, of which we ran foul, notwithstanding our exertions 
to keep clear of it; and although we hung cables, coils 
of rope, hoops and such things, over the ship to defend 
her, she struck so hard, that at eleven she bilged, whence 
we had much difficulty to keep her afloat till day-light, 
by two pumps going, and bailing at three hatch-ways. 

At the approach of day, our men were much fatigued, 
the water increased, and against noon the hold was half 
full. No one knew what to advise another, and all be¬ 
gan to despair of their lives : we continued pumping, 
though to little purpose, and concluded, that if now were 
our appointed time, we must submit patiently to it. 

But amidst this disaster, it pleased God to put it into 
the thoughts of some us, that several might be preserved 
in the boat, upon which the captain was entreated to 
hoist her out, and commit a few of us there. 

The captain answered, that, although God could work 
wonders, it was improbable that so small a boat should 
preserve us; that it was but living a few days longer in 
misery; and, seeing God had cast this calamity to his lot, 
he was resolved to take his chance, and die with his men. 

Nevertheless, being much importuned, he ordered the 
boat out, and William Saunders ajid five others in her; 


PRESERVATION OF NINE MEN. 


261 


and, that the men might not suspect their design it was 
given out that the boat should go ahead to tow the ship 
clear of the ice. How likely that was the reader may 
judge, there being but one oar, all the rest were broken 
by defending the ship from the ice. However, the pur¬ 
pose advanced. 

The boat being out, and finding no effect produced in 
towing the ship, fell a-stern, intending to take in the cap¬ 
tain and as many as it could safely carry, while some 
were preparing necessaries for a miserable voyage. A 
compass, and other things ready, were conveyed into it. 

The captain, doctor and several others, having got out 
at the cabin windows and galleries, I, amongst the rest, 
endeavored to escape at the gallery, intending likewise, 
if possible, to get into the boat; but being discovered by 
the men, they took small arms, and kept off the boat, 
resolving, as they could not preserve all, that the whole 
should perish together. 

This design being frustrated, every one, except myself 
and William Langmead, got into the ship again; but we 
were so low that we could not recover ourselves. No 
person coming to relieve us, we were at length forced to 
let go our hold, and trust to the mercy of those in the 
boat, who seeing us swimming towards them, hove out a 
rope and took us in. 

We were now eight in number in the boat; and, willing 
to save our captain, lay hovering about the ship till night; 
but the men persisting in their resolution, fired at the 
boat and kept her off. We began to seek shelter as 
night approached; and, having gone among the shat¬ 
tered ice, made our boat fast to a small lump, and drove 
with it; and as we came foul of great ice, we removed 
and made fast to another piece, and so continued during 
the remainder of the night. Looking around in the 
morning, the ship was seen about three leagues to the 
eastward in the same position as we had left her, where¬ 
on a consultation was held, whether or not we should 
return and make another attempt to save the captain, 
and as many more as possible. This proposal, however, 
was negatived, every one alleging that the men would 


262 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


either fire on us, or inconsiderately crowd into the boat 
and sink her; therefore it was resolved to make the best 
of our way to the shore. But I, considering how little it 
would tend to my honor to save my life, and see my 
captain perish, endeavored to persude them that the ship 
still swam buoyant, that I hoped the leak was stopped, 
and that we might proceed on our voyage; but this was 
unavailing. When I saw myself unabie to prevail thus, 

I desired them to row up and set me on that part of the 
ice next the ship, whence I should walk to her, and die 
with my commander. 

This being unanimously agreed to, we rowed up to the 
ice; but when we reached it, I was loth to get out. 
However, on calling the captain to us, Mr. John Maddick 
came first, and after him the doctor and some others, 
which the captain perceiving, came also. 

The captain having left the ship, the multitude crowd¬ 
ed so eagerly after him that we had like to have spoiled 
all; but by chance the boat was got off, and twenty-one 
people in her and hanging to her sides. Some were 
forced to slip; others perished on the ice, not being able 
to return to the ship, where the rest were lost. 

On the 25th of March, we took a miserable farewell 
of our distressed brethren, the heart of every one being 
so overloaded with his own misery as to have little room 
to pity ano-ther. Next, on considering what course to 
follow, we resolved to make for the shore. 

Our only provision was a small barrel of flour, and a 
five gallon rundlet of brandy, which had been thrown 
overboard, and was taken up by us. We also took up 
an old chest, which stood us in good stead, for having 
but one oar, and our ship’s handspikes, and a hatchet 
being by chance in the boat, we could split the chest, 
and nail it to the handspikes, which were our oars. 
Nails we had only by drawing them from different parts 
of the boat; and the rest of the chest was used to kindle 
a fire. It also happened that our main tarpauling, which 
had been newly tarred, was put into the boat. Of it we 
made a main-sail; and of an old piece of canvas, that 
had been a sail to a yawl, we made a fore-sail. In this 


♦ 


PRESERVATION OF NINE MEN. 


263 


condition we turned towards the shore, and observing 
the surrounding ice lie north and south, we steered north, 
and in the morning were clear of it. 

Having now got into the ocean, and the wind being 
still easterly, we hoisted our sail, and steered W. N. W. 
about fourteen leagues, when we fell in with another 
field of ice. Attempting to sail through it, we were en¬ 
closed by many great islands, which drove so fast toge¬ 
ther, that we were forced to haul up our boat on the ice, 
otherwise we should have perished. 

Here we lay eleven days without once seeing the sea. 
As the ice was thick, we caught as many seals as we 
chose, for they were in great abundance. Our fire- 
hearth was made of the skin, and the fat melted so 
easily, that we could boil the lean with it. 

But by lying so long in this cold region, the men be¬ 
gan to complain of their feet; and our boat being too 
small to afford room for all, there was always a hideous 
cry among us of hurting each other, though for this there 
was no remedy. We kept watch six and six, both for 
the convenience of room, and to guard against the ice 
breaking under our boat, which often happened, and 
then it was necessary to launch, or carry her to a place 
which we thought strong enough to bear her weight. 

In eleven days we saw the sea, and, with great diffi¬ 
culty, got out the boat. We sailed about ten or twelve 
leagues N. N. W. as before, when we were again en¬ 
closed ; and this was repeated five several times. The last 
ice, however, was worse than any before, and although 
it was so thick that we could not force the boat through 
it, yet it was not so solid as to bear the weight of a man; 
therefore, notwithstanding we daily saw enough seals, 
we could take none of them. 

It fortunately happened, that when we parted from 
the hard ice, we had seven seals in store, and one that 
we took dead, which was consumed without consulting 
how it had died. 

We were next reduced to short allowance, having only 
one among us to serve two days, which, with about 
three ounces of flour, mixed with water, and boiled in 


% 


264 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the fat of the seal, was all our provision. At length we 
were obliged to share both feet and skin, each of us al¬ 
lowing a little fat to make a fire. But being constrained 
to eat the whole, skin and bone also, scarcely boiled, in¬ 
jured our stomachs so much, that some of our number 
died, and I myself suffered severely. 

On getting clear of the loose ice, if the wind was so 
adverse as to prevent our rowing, we made fast the boat 
to an island of ice until better weather. Although this 
sheltered us, we were often in great danger, from the 
islands driving foul of us, so that it was wonderful we 
escaped. 

We drank the ice mixed with brandy; and our pro¬ 
visions, with good management, lasted until out coming 
ashore, for it pleased God to save some of us by taking 
others to himself. Our companions began to die two or 
three in a day, until we were at last reduced to nine. 

The feet of several who died were bit in such a man¬ 
ner by the frost, that, on stripping them, which was 
done to give the clothes to the survivors, their toes came 
away with the stockings. The last who died was the 
boatswain, who lived until the day before we saw land. 

Our compass was broken by the last field of ice through 
which we passed, and soon after we lost our water- 
bucket, which was used for bailing. Our course was 
directed by the sun in the day-time, and the stars by 
night. 

Though many other accidents befel us, it pleased the 
Lord to bring us safe to land, after passing twenty-eight 
days in the boat. 

On the 24th of April, we arrived at Baccalew, and 
thence repaired to the bay of Verds, in Newfoundland, 
where we found three men providing for a fishing voy¬ 
age, who carried us to their house, and gave us such 
things as they had. But they being indifferently stored, 
and unable to maintain us, we determined to go to St. 
John’s, notwithstanding some of us were so much frost¬ 
bit, as to be obliged to be carried to the boat. Before 
getting to cape St. Francis, however, the wind veered to 
the southwest, which compelled us to row all night. In 


LOSS OF THE JENEAS TRANSPORT. 


265 


the morning we reached Portugal Cove, where to our 
unspeakable joy, some men were found preparing for the 
summer’s fishing. They showed us ^o much compas¬ 
sion as to launch a boat, and tow us over to Belleisle, 
and there we were courteously received. All were so 
weak that we were carried ashore on men’s shoulders ; 
and we were besides so disfigured with hunger, cold, 
and the oil of seals, that people could hardly recognise 
us as men, except for the shape. At Belleisle we re¬ 
mained ten days, when, being somewhat recruited, we 
went to St. John’s. Thus, in all this extremity, God 
miraculously preserved nine out of ninety-six that were 
in the ship. 


LOSS OF THE iENEAS TRANSPORT. 

The iEneas transport sailed with three hundred and 
forty-seven souls on board, including a party of men be¬ 
longing to the 100th regiment of foot, as also some offi¬ 
cers, together with several women and children. About 
four in the morning of the 23d of October, 1805, the ves¬ 
sel struck violently on a rock, and received such damage 
that her total wreck soon became evident to all on board. 
For the first few minutes after this alarming occurrence, 
the women and children clung to their husbands and fa¬ 
thers ; but in a short time, a prodigious wave swept not 
less than two hundred and fifty of those miserable peo¬ 
ple into the ocean. The rock whereon the vessel had 
struck, speedily forced its way through the decks, and 
then it appears, from her parting, thirty-five of the sur¬ 
vivors were driven on a small island before eight in the 
morning, about a quarter of a mile distant, but when 
she had entirely gone to pieces. 

The narrative of these events was collected from one 
of the survivors, a soldier of the 100th regiment, who 
could give no correct account of how he and the others 
got ashore, but he supposed they were floated in by part 
of the wreck. He remembered to have observed one of 
23 



266 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the boys endeavoring to save major Bertram, whose arm 
was broken by some timber, and he was on the point of 
sinking; he held him up as long as his strength per¬ 
mitted ; but to save his own life, was forced to let go 
his hold, and the major perished. 

The thirty-five men who gained the shore, consisted 
of part of the regiment, two of whom were officers, lieu¬ 
tenant Dawson and ensign Faulkner, and seven sailors. 
Immediately on landing, the wind unfortunately chang¬ 
ed, so that not an article of any kind was saved from 
the wreck. Mr. Faulkner was aware of the real situa¬ 
tion they had reached, judging the main-land, which 
they saw about a mile distant, to be Newfoundland, and 
that they were about three hundred miles distant from 
the town of St. John’s. 

After passing one night on the little island, they con¬ 
structed a raft, by means of which, thirty of them arriv¬ 
ed on the main-land. Previous to this, however, four 
survivors of the shipwreck had died, among whom was 
the poor fellow who had endeavored to save major Ber¬ 
tram. Another, who had both his legs broken, was miss¬ 
ing, as he had crawled away from his comrades, that he 
might die in quiet. But, eight days afterwards, he was 
found alive, though in a shocking state, as his feet- were 
frozen off. Yet he survived all this, and reached Que¬ 
bec at a future period. Most of the party set out, leav¬ 
ing three behind them, who were unable to walk from 
bruises, and directed their course towards the rising 
sun; but when the first day had elapsed, lieutenant 
Dawson became incapable of keeping up with the re¬ 
mainder ; and two soldiers staid to attend him. These 
three toiled onwards without any food, except the ber¬ 
ries which they found; and lieutenant Dawson was 
then unable to stand, unless supported. On reaching the 
banks of a river, one of the soldiers attempted to carry 
him across on his back; but having waded up to the 
neck, he was obliged to return, and lay him down on 
the bank. There Mr. Dawson entreated his faithful at¬ 
tendants to make the best of their way, and leave him to 
his fate; and at the same time, affectionately squeezing 


LOSS OF THE JENEAS TRANSPORT. 267 

their hands, he entreated them to inform his father of 
his melancholy end. Here the soldier, who was one of 
them, and who related these affecting incidents, burst 
into a flood of tears before he could proceed. “We staid 
with him,” said he, “ until we did not know whether 
he was alive or dead.” 

The two survivors continued wandering in a weak 
and feeble state for twelve days longer, making twenty- 
six in all from the period of their shipwreck, and sub¬ 
sisting on what they could find on a barren and inhos¬ 
pitable land. But after the first four or five days, they 
suffered no hunger, for, as they themselves said, their 
misfortunes were so great as to banish its influence, and 
to deprive them of the sense of feeling. The snow be¬ 
sides was so deep during the last two days, as to pre¬ 
vent them from getting the berries as usual. 

At last they were found by a man belonging to a hunt¬ 
ing party, who, little suspecting to see human beings in 
that desolate region, took them, at a distance, for deer, 
and had concealed himself behind a fallen tree, with his 
gun pointed towards one of them, when his dog, leaping 
towards them, began to bark, and showed his error. 
When they related their shipwreck, and the sufferings 
they had endured, tears stole down the cheeks of the 
huntsman, and, taking the moccasins from his feet, gave 
them to the poor miserable creatures. He invited them 
to his hunting-cabin, saying it was only a mile off, though 
the real distance was at least twelve miles; but, by de¬ 
grees, he enticed them to proceed, and at length they 
gained it. On approaching the hut, four or five men 
came out with long, bloody knives in their hands, when 
the narrator, turning to his comrade, exclaimed, “ After 
all we have escaped, are we brought here to be butcher¬ 
ed and ate up ?” But they soon discovered tbair mistake, 
for the men had been cutting up some deer, the fruit of 
their chase, and the appearance of the unfortunate sol¬ 
diers quickly excited sentiments of pity in their breast, 
they produced a bottle of rum wherewith they were re¬ 
freshed. 

Every possible comfort was ministered by the hunters 


268 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


to the unfortunate wanderers, and, from the accounts 
and description given to them, they set out in quest of 
the others. They luckily succeeded in finding the man 
who remained the first day on the island, and also the 
other two who were unable to leave the shore. 

Those two men who had accompanied lieutenant 
Dawson, appeared to have made but little progress dur¬ 
ing twenty-six days of travelling, for they were disco¬ 
vered in a place not very remote from whence they set 
out. Thus, involved among the woods, they must have 
returned over the same ground that they had passed. 

Those whom the huntsman first met endeavored to 
make them understand where they might find the re¬ 
mains of lieutenant Dawson, and ensign Faulkner, and 
his party, but they could speak too vaguely of where 
they had themselves been, to give any pointed directions 
on the subject. But two of the latter were found by a 
man on another hunting excursion, about ninety miles 
distant, apparently lifeless; though on being carried to 
an adjacent settlement they recovered. Of the whole 
thirty-five who survived the wreck of the transport, ac¬ 
counts could be heard only of these five. 

Ensign Faulkner was a strong, active, enterprising 
man, and fully capable of adopting whatever means 
could be devised for preservation. Both he and lieuten¬ 
ant Dawson, who was scarce more than seventeen years 
of age, were of the greatest promise. While the trans¬ 
port lay about three miles from Portsmouth, they are 
said to have swum to the ship, when the former climbed 
up her side, but the latter was nearly exhausted. 

A brig from Port, which touched at Newfoundland, 
carried five of the survivors from thence to Quebec; and 
when they arrived there in the barrack-square, a most 
affecting scene ensued. Men and women eagerly flock¬ 
ed arcund them, with anxious inquiries for some friend 
or brother who was on board the ill-fated vessel. But 
all they could answer was, “ If you do not see him here, 
be assured he has perished; for, of three hundred and 
forty-seven souls, we five Irish lads and two sailors 
are all that remain alive.” The tears and exclamations 
following these words can scarce be described. 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR, 
On a rock in the Archipelago. 

A misunderstanding having originated between the 
court of Great Britain and the Ottoman Porte, a power¬ 
ful squadron was ordered to proceed to Constantinople, 
for the purpose of enforcing compliance with rational 
propositions. The object, however, proved abortive; 
and the expedition terminated in a way which did not 
enhance the reputation of these islands in the eyes of the 
Turks. 

Sir Thomas Louis, commander of the squadron sent to 
Dardanelles, having charged captain Palmer with des¬ 
patches of the utmost importance for England, the Nauti¬ 
lus got under weigh at daylight on the third of January, 
1807. A fresh breeze from north-east carried her rapidly 
out of the Hellespont, passing the celebrated castles in 
the Dardanelles, which severely galled the British. 
Soon afterwards she passed the island of Tenedos, off 
the north end of which, two vessels of war were seen at 
anchor; they hoisted Turkish colors, and in return the 
Nautilus showed those of Britain. In the course of this 
day, many of the other islands abounding in the Greek 
Archipelago came in sight, and in the evening, the ship 
approached the island of Negropont, lying in 38 30 north 
latitude, and 24 8 east longitude; but now the naviga¬ 
tion became more intricate, from the increasing number 
of islands, and from the narrow entrance between Ne¬ 
gropont and the island of Andros. 

The wind still continued to blow fresh, and as night 
was approaching, with the appearance of being dark 
and squally, the pilot, who was a Greek, wished to lie 
to until morning, which was done accordingly; and at 
daylight the vessel again proceeded. His course was 
shaped for the island Falconera, in a track which has 


270 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


been so elegantly described by Falconer, in a poem as 
far surpassing the uncouth productions of modern times, 
as the Ionian temples surpassed those flimsy structures 
contributed to render the fame of the originals eternal. 
This island, and that of Anti Milo, were made in the 
evening, the latter distant fourteen or sixteen miles from 
the more extensive island of Milo, which could not then 
be seen, from the thickness and haziness of the weather. 

The pilot never having been beyond the present posi¬ 
tion of the Nautilus, and declaring his ignorance of the 
further bearings, now relinquished his charge, which 
was resumed by the captain. All possible attention was 
paid to the navigation ; and captain Palmer, after seeing 
Falconera so plainly, and anxious to fulfil his mission 
with the greatest expedition, resolved to stand on during 
the night. He was confident of clearing the Archipelago 
by morning, and himself pricked the course from the 
chart which was to be steered by the vessel. This he 
pointed out to his coxswain, George Smith, of whose 
ability he entertained a high opinion. Then he ordered 
his bed to be prepared, not having had his clothes off*for 
the three preceding nights, and having scarce had any 
sleep from the time of leaving the Dardanelles. 

A night of extreme darkness followed, with vivid 
lightning constantly flashing in the horizon; but this 
circumstance served to inspire the captain with a greater 
degree of confidence; for being enabled by it to see so 
much further at intervals, he thought, that should the 
ship approach any land, the danger would be discovered 
in sufficient time to be avoided. 

The wind continued still increasing; and though the 
ship carried but little sail, she went at the rate of nine 
miles an hour, being assisted by a lofty following sea, 
which with the brightness of the lightning, made the 
night particularly awful. At half past two in the morn¬ 
ing, high land was distinguished, which those who saw 
it supposed to be the island of Cerigotto, and thence 
thought all safe, and that every danger had been left be¬ 
hind. The ship’s course was altered to pass the island, 
and she continued on her course until half past four, at 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 271 

the changing of the watch, when the man on the look¬ 
out exclaimed, “ breakers ahead !” and immediately the 
vessel struck with a most tremendous crash. Such was 
the violence of the shock, that people were thrown from 
their beds, and, on coming upon deck, were obliged to 
cling to the cordage. All was now confusion and 
alarm ; the crew hurried on deck,*vhich they had scarce 
time to do when the ladders below gave way, and in¬ 
deed left many persons struggling in the water, which 
already rushed into the under part of the ship. The 
captain it appeared had not gone to bed, and immedi¬ 
ately came on deck when the Nautilus struck; there 
having examined her situation, he immediately went 
round, accompanied by his second lieutenant, Mr. Nes- 
bit, and endeavored to quiet the apprehensions of the 
people. He then returned to his cabin, and burnt his 
papers and private signals. Meantime every sea lifted 
up the ship, and then dashed her with irresistible force 
on the rocks ; and in a short time, the crew were obliged 
to resort to the rigging, where they remained an hour, 
exposed to the surges incessantly breaking over them. 
There they broke out into the most lamentable exclama¬ 
tions, for their parents, children, and kindred, and the 
distresses they themselves endured. The weather was 
so dark and hazy, that the rocks could be seen only at a 
very small distance, and in two minutes afterwards the 
ship had struck. 

At this time the lightning had ceased, but the dark¬ 
ness of the night was such, that the people could not 
see the length of the ship from them; their only hope 
rested in the falling of the main-mast, which they trust¬ 
ed would reach a small rock, which was discovered 
very near them. Accordingly, about half an hour be¬ 
fore daybreak, the main-mast gave way, providentially 
falling towards the rock, and by means of it they were 
enabled to gain the land. 

The struggles and confusion to which this incident 
gave birth, can better be conceived than described; some 
of the crew were drowned, one man had his arm broke, 
and many were cruelly lacerated; but captain Palmer 


272 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


refused to quit his station, while any individual remain¬ 
ed on board ; and not until the whole of his people had 
gained the rock, did he endeavor to save himself. At 
that time, in consequence of remaining by the wreck, he 
had received considerable personal injury, and must in¬ 
fallibly have perished, had not some of the seamen ven¬ 
tured through a tremendous sea to his assistance. The 
boats were staved in pieces; several of the people en¬ 
deavored to haul in the jolly-boat, which they were in¬ 
capable of accomplishing. 

The hull of the vessel being interposed, sheltered the 
shipwrecked crew a long time from the beating of the 
surf; but as she broke up, their situation became more 
perilous every moment, and they soon found that they 
should be obliged to abandon the small portion of the 
rock, which they had reached, and wade to another, ap¬ 
parently somewhat larger. The first lieutenant, by 
watching the breaking of the seas, had got safely thither, 
and it was resolted by the rest to follow his example. 
Scarce was this resolution formed, and attempted to be 
put into execution, when the people encountered an im¬ 
mense quantity of loose spars, which were immediately 
washed into the channel which they had to pass; but 
necessity would admit of no alternative. Many in cross¬ 
ing between the two rocks were severely wounded; and 
they suffered more in this undertaking than in gaining 
the first rock from the ship. The loss of their shoes was 
now felt in particular, for the sharp rocks tore their feet 
in a dreadful manner, and the legs of some were covered 
with blood. 

Daylight beginning to appear, disclosed the horrors by 
which those unfortunate men were surrounded. The 
sea was covered with the wreck of their ill fated ship; 
many of their unhappy comrades were seen floating 
away on spars and timbers; and the dead and dying 
were mingled together without a possibility of the sur¬ 
vivors affording assistance to any that might still be res¬ 
cued. Two short hours had been productive of all 
this misery, the ship destroyed and her crew reduced 
to a situation of despair. Their wild and affrighted 


Loss oj the Nautilus, 1 'age 



% 




















































































































































































































































































































































LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 273 

looks indicated the sensations by which they were agi¬ 
tated ; but on being recalled to a sense of their real con¬ 
dition, they saw that they had nothing left but resigna¬ 
tion to the will of Heaven. 

The shipwrecked mariners now discovered that they 
were cast away on a coral-rock almost level with the 
water, about three or four hundred yards long, and two 
hundred broad. They were at least twelve miles from 
the nearest islands, which were afterwards found to be 
those of Cerigotto and Pera, on the north end of Candia, 
about thirty miles distant. At this time it was reported 
that a small boat, with several men, had escaped; and 
although the fact was true, the uncertainty of her fate 
induced those on the rock to confide in being relieved by 
any vessel accidentally passing in sight of a signal of dis¬ 
tress they had hoisted on a long pole; the neighboring 
islands being too distant. 

The weather had been extremely cold, and the day 
preceding the shipwreck, ice had lain on the deck ; now, 
to resist its inclemency, a fire was made, by means of a 
knife and a flint preserved in the pocket of one of the 
sailors; and with much difficulty, some damp powder, 
from a small barrel washed on shore, was kindled. A 
kind of tent was next made, with pieces of old canvass, 
boards, and such things as could be got about the wreck, 
and the people were thus enabled to dry the few clothes 
they had saved. But they passed a long and comfort¬ 
less night, though partly consoled with the hope of their 
fire being descried in the dark, and taken for a signal of 
distress. Nor was this hope altogether disappointed. 

When the ship first struck, a small whale-boat was 
hanging over the quarter, into which, an officer, George 
Smith, the coxswain, and nine men, immediately got, 
and lowering themselves into the water, happily escap¬ 
ed. After rowing three or four leagues against a very 
high sea, and the wind blowing hard, they reached the 
small island of Pera. This proved to be scarce a mile 
in circuit, and containing nothing but a few sheep and 
goats, belonging to the inhabitants of Cerigo, who come 
in the summer months to carry away their young. 


274 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


They could find no fresh water, except a small residue 
from rain in the hole of a rock, and that was barely suf¬ 
ficient though most sparingly used. During the night, 
having observed the fire above-mentioned, the party be¬ 
gan to conjecture that some of their shipmates mi^ht 
have been saved, for until then, they had deemed their 
destruction inevitable. The coxswain, impressed with 
this opinion, proposed again hazarding themselves in the 
boat for their relief, and, although some feeble objections 
were offered against it, he continued resolute to his pur¬ 
pose, and persuaded four others to accompany him. 

About nine in the morning of Tuesday, the second 
day of the shipwreck, the approach in the little whale¬ 
boat was descried by those on the rock; all uttered an 
exclamation of joy, and in return, the surprise of the cox¬ 
swain and his crew to find so many of their shipmates 
still surviving is not to be described. But the surf ran 
so high as to endanger the safety of the boat, and seve¬ 
ral of the people imprudently endeavored to get into 
it. The coxswain tried to persuade captain Palmer to 
come to him, but he steadily refused, saying, “ No, 
Smith, save your unfortunate shipmates, never mind 
me.” After some little consultation, he desired him to 
take the Greek pilot on board, and make the best of his 
way to Cerigotto, where the pilot said there were some 
families of fishermen, who doubtless would relieve their 
necessities. 

But it appeared as if Heaven had ordained the des¬ 
truction of this unfortunate crew, for, soon after the boat 
departed, the wind began to increase, and dark clouds 
gathering around, excited among those remaining be¬ 
hind, all their apprehensions for a frightful storm. In 
about two hours it commenced with the greatest fury; 
the waves rose considerably, and soon destroyed the 
fire. They nearly covered the rock, and compelled the 
men to fly to the highest part for refuge, which was the 
only one that could afford any shelter. There, nearly 
ninety people passed a night of the greatest horror ; and 
the only means of preventing themselves from being 
swept away by the surf, which every moment broke 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 275 

over them, was by a small rope fastened round the sum¬ 
mit of the rock, and with difficulty holding on by each 
other. 

The fatigues which the people had previously under¬ 
gone, added to what they now endured, proved too over¬ 
powering to many of their number ; several became de¬ 
lirious ; their strength was exhausted, and they could 
hold on no longer. Their afflictions were still further 
aggravated by an apprehension that the wind, veering 
more to the north, would raise the sea to their present 
situation, in which case a single wave would have 
swept them all into oblivion. 

The hardships which the crew had already suffered 
were sufficient to terminate existence, and many had 
met with deplorable accidents. One in particular, while 
crossing the channel between the rocks at an unsuita¬ 
ble time, was dashed against them so as to be nearly 
scalped, and exhibited a dreadful spectacle to his crm- 
panions. He lingered out the night, and next morning, 
expired. The more fortunate survivors were but ill pre¬ 
pared to meet the terrible effects of famine ; their 
strength enfeebled, their bodies unsheltered, and aban¬ 
doned by hope. Nor were they less alarmed for the fate 
of their boat. The storm came on before she could have 
reached the intended island, and on her safety, their own 
depended. But the scene which daylight presented was 
still more deplorable. The survivors beheld the corpses 
of their departed shipmates, and some still in the ago¬ 
nies of death. They were themselves altogether ex¬ 
hausted, from the sea’s all night breaking over them, and 
the inclemency of the weather, which was such, that 
many, among whom was the carpenter, perished from 
excessive cold. 

But this unfortunate crew had now to suffer a morti¬ 
fication, and to witness an instance of inhumanity, which 
leaves an eternal stain of infamy on those who merit 
the reproach. Soon after day broke, they observed a 
vessel with all sail set, coming down before the wind, 
steering directly for the rock. They made every possi¬ 
ble signal of distress which their feeble condition ad- 


276 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


mitted, nor without effect, for they were at last seen by 
the vessel, which bore to and hoisted out her boat. The 
joy which this occasioned may be easily conceived, for 
nothing short of immediate relief was anticipated; and 
they hastily made preparations for rafts to carry them 
through the surf, confident that the boat was provided 
with whatever might administer to their necessities. 
Approaching still nearer, she came within pistol-shot, 
full of men dressed in the European fashion, who after 
having gazed at them a few minutes, the person who 
steered, waved his hat to them and then rowed off to his 
ship. The pain of the shipwrecked people at this bar¬ 
barous proceeding was acute, and heightened even more, 
by beholding the stranger vessel employed the whole 
day in taking up the floating remains of that less fortu¬ 
nate one which had so lately borne them. 

Perhaps the abandoned wretches guilty of so unfeeling 
an act may one day be disclosed, and it would surely 
excite little compassion to learn that they suffered 
that retribution which such inhuman conduct me¬ 
rits. That people dressed in the habit of Englishmen, 
though belonging to a different nation, could take ad¬ 
vantage of misery instead of relieving it, will scarce 
seem creditable at the present day, were not some in¬ 
stances of a similar nature related elsewhere than in 
these volumes. 

After this cruel disappointment, and bestowing an 
anathema which the barbarity of the strangers deserved, 
the thoughts of the people were, during the remainder of 
the day, directed towards the return of the boat; and 
being disappointed there also, their dread that she had 
been lost was only further confirmed. They began to 
yield to despondency, and had the gloomy prospect of 
certain death before them. Thirst then became intolera¬ 
ble ; and in spite of being warned against it by instances 
of the terrific effects ensuing, some in desperation re¬ 
sorted to salt water. Their companions had soon the 
grief of learning what they would experience by follow¬ 
ing their example; in a few hours, raging madness fol¬ 
lowed, and nature could struggle no longer. 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 2 77 

Another awful night was to he passed, yet the wea¬ 
ther being considerably more moderate, the sufferers en¬ 
tertained hopes that it would be less disastrous than the 
one preceding; and to preserve themselves from the 
cold, they crowded close together and covered themselves 
with their few remaining rags. But the ravings of their 
comrades who had drank salt water, were truly horrible; 
all endeavors to quiet them, were ineffectual, and the 
power of sleep lost its influence. In the middle of the 
night they were unexpectedly hailed by the crew of the 
whale-boat; but the only object of the people on the 
rock was water; they cried out to their shipmates for it, 
though in vain. Earthern vessels only could have been 
procured, and these would not bear being conveyed 
through the surf. The coxswain then said they should 
be taken off the rock by a fishing-vessel in the morning, 
and with this assurance they were forced to be content. 
It was some consolation to know that the boat was safe, 
and that relief had so far been obtained. 

All the people anxiously expected morning, and, for 
the first time since being on the rock, the sun cheered 
them with its rays. Still the fourth morning came and 
no tidings either of the boat or vessel. The anxiety of 
the people increased, for inevitable death from famine, 
was staring them in the face. What were they to do 
for self-preservation ? The misery and hunger ,which 
they endured, were extreme; they were not ignorant of 
the means whereby other unfortunate mariners in the 
like situation had protracted life, yet they viewed them 
with disgust. Still when they had no alternative, they 
considered their urgent necessities and found them af¬ 
fording some excuse. Offering prayers to Heaven for 
forgiveness of the sinful act, they selected a young man 
who had died the preceding night, and ventured to ap¬ 
pease their hunger with human flesh. 

Whether the people were relieved is uncertain; for to¬ 
wards evening, death had made hasty strides among 
them, and many brave men drooped under their hard¬ 
ships. Among these were the captain and first lieuten¬ 
ant, two meritorious officers; and the sullen silence now 
24 


278 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


preserved by the survivors, showed the state of their in¬ 
ternal feelings. Captain Palmer was in the twenty-sixth 
year of his age; amidst his endeavors to comfort those 
under his command, his companions in misfortune, his 
personal injuries were borne with patience and resigna¬ 
tion, and no murmurs escaped his lips; his virtuous life 
was prematurely closed by the overwhelming severities 
of the lamentable catastrophe he had shared. 

During the course of another tedious night, many 
suggested the possibility of constructing a raft which 
might carry the survivors to Cerigotto; and the wind 
being favorable, might enable them to reach that island. 
At all events, attempting this seemed preferable to re¬ 
maining on the rock to expire of hunger and thirst. Ac¬ 
cordingly, at daylight they prepared to put their plan in 
execution. A number of the larger spars were lashed 
together, and sanguine hopes of success entertained. 
At length the moment of launching the raft arrived, but 
it was only to distress the people with new disappoint¬ 
ments, for a few moments sufficed for the destruction of 
a work on which the strongest of the party had been oc¬ 
cupied hours. Several from this unexpected failure be¬ 
came still more desperate, and five resolved to trust 
themselves on a few small spars slightly lashed together, 
and on which they had scarce room to stand. Bidding 
their companions adieu, they launched out into the sea, 
where they were speedily carried away by unknown 
currents, and vanished forever from sight. 

Towards the same afternoon, the people were again 
rejoiced by the sight of the whale-boat, and the cox¬ 
swain told them that he had experienced great difficulty 
in prevailing on the Greek fishermen of Cerigotto to ven¬ 
ture in their boats, from dread of the weather. Neither 
would they permit him to take them unaccompanied by 
themselves ; he regretted what his comrades had endur¬ 
ed, and his grief at not being able yet to relieve them, 
but encouraged them with hopes, if the weather remain¬ 
ed fine, that next day the boats might come. While the 
coxswain spoke this, twelve or fourteen men imprudently 
plunged from the rock into the sea, and very nearly 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 279 

reached the boat. Two, indeed, got so far as to be tak¬ 
en in; one was drowned, and the rest providentially re¬ 
covered their former station. Those who thus escaped 
could not but be envied by their companions, while they 
reproached the indiscretion of the others, who, had they 
reached the boat, would without all doubt have sunk 
her, and thus unwittingly consigned the whole to irre¬ 
mediable destruction. 

The people were wholly occupied in reflections on the 
passing incidents; but their weakness increased as the 
day elapsed; one of the survivors described himself as 
feeling the approach of annihilation, that his sight failed, 
and his senses became confused; that his strength was 
exhausted, and his eyes turned towards the setting sun, 
under the conviction that he should never see it rise 
again. Yet on the morning he survived, and he was 
surprised that Providence willed it should still be so, as 
several strong men had fallen in the course of the night. 
While the remainder were contemplating their forlorn 
condition, and judging this the last day of their lives, 
the approach of the boats was unexpectedly announced. 
From the lowest ebb of despair, they were now elated 
with the most extravagant joy; and copious draughts 
of water, quickly landed, refreshed their languid bodies. 
Never before did they know the blessings which the 
single possession of water could afford; it tasted more 
delicious than the finest wines. 

Anxious preparations were made for immediate de¬ 
parture from a place, which had been fatal to so many 
unhappy sufferers. Of one hundred and twenty-two 
persons on board the Nautilus when she struck, fifty- 
eight had perished. Eighteen were drowned, it was 
supposed, at the moment of the catastrophe, and one m 
attempting to reach the boat; five were lest on the small 
raft, and thirty-four died of famine. About fifty now 
embarked in our fishing vessels, and landed the same 
evening at the island of Cerigotto, making altogether 
sixty-four individuals, including those who escaped in 
the whale-boat. Six days had been passed on the rock, 
nor had the people, during that time, received any as- 


280 


REMARKABLE shipwrecks. 


sistance, excepting from the human flesh of which they 
had participated 

The survivors landed at a small creek in the island 
of Cerigotto, after which they had to go to a considerable 
distance before reaching the dwellings of their friends. 
Their first care was to send for the master’s mate, who 
had escaped to the island of Pori, and had been left be¬ 
hind when the whale-boat came down to the rock. He 
and his companions had exhausted all the fresh water, 
but lived on the sheep and goats, which they caught 
among the rocks, and had drank their blood. There 
they had remained in a state of great uncertainty con¬ 
cerning the fate of those who had left them in the boat. 

Though the Greeks could not aid the seamen in the 
care of their wounds, they treated them with great care 
and hospitality; but medical assistance being important, 
from the pain the sufferers endured, and having nothing 
to bind up their wounds but shirts which they tore into 
bandages, they were eager to reach Cerigo. The island 
of Cerigotto, where they had landed, was a dependency 
on the other, about fifteen miles long, ten broad, and of 
a barren and unproductive soil, with little cultivation. 
Twelve or fourteen families of Greek fishermen dwelt up¬ 
on it, as the pilot had said, who were in a state of ex¬ 
treme poverty. Their houses, or rather huts, consisting 
of cne or two rooms on the same floor, were, in general, 
built against the side of a rock; the walls composed of 
clay and straw, and the roof supported by a tree in the 
centre of the dwelling. Their food was a coarse kind 
of bread, formed of boiled pease and flour, which was 
made into a kind of paste for the strangers, with once or 
twice a bit of kid; and that was all which they could 
expect from their deliverers. But they made a liquor 
from corn, which having an agreeable flavor, and being 
a strong spirit, was drank with avidity by the sailors. 

Cerigo was about twenty-five miles distant, and there, 
it was also said, an English consul resided. Eleven 
days elapsed, however, before the crew could leave Ceri¬ 
gotto, from the difficulty of persuading the Greeks to 
adventure to sea, in their frail barks, during tempestuous 


LOSS OF THE NAUTILUS SLOOP OF WAR. 281 

weather. The wind at last proving fair, with a smooth 
sea, they bade a grateful adieu to the families of their 
deliverers, who were tenderly affected by their distresses, 
and shed tears of regret when they departed. In six or 
eight hours, they reached Cerigo, where they were re¬ 
ceived with open arms. Immediately on arrival, they 
were met by the English vice-consul, Signor Manuel 
Caluci, a native of the island, who devoted his house, 
bed, credit, and whole attention to their service; and the 
survivors unite in declaring their inability to express the 
obligations under which he laid them. The governor, 
commandant, bishop, and principal people, all showed 
equal hospitality, care, and friendship, and exerted 
themselves to render the time agreeable; insomuch that 
it was with no little regret that these shipwrecked mari¬ 
ners thought of forsaking the island. 

After the people had remained three weeks at Cerigo, 
they learnt that a Russian ship of-war lay at anchor 
off the Morea, about twelve leagues distant, being driven 
in by bad weather, and immediately sent letters to her 
commanding officer, narrating their misfortunes, and so¬ 
liciting a passage to Corfu. The master of the Nautilus 
determined to make the most of the opportunity, took a 
boat to reach the Russian vessel; but he was at first so 
unfortunate as to be blown on the rocks in a heavy gale 
of wind, where he nearly perished, and the boat was 
staved in pieces. However, he luckily got to the ship, 
and after some difficulty, succeeded in procuring the de¬ 
sired passage for himself and his companions to Corfu. 
Her commander, to accommodate them, came down to 
Cerigo, and anchored at a small port called St. Nicholas, 
at the eastern extremity of the island. The English em¬ 
barked on the 5th, but, owing to contrary winds, did not 
sail until the 15th of February, when they bade farewell 
to their friends. They next touched at Zante, another 
small island, abounding in currants and olives; the oil 
from the latter of which constitutes the chief riches of 
the people. After remaining there four days, they sailed 
for Corfu, where they arrived on the 2d of March, 1807, 
nearly two months after the date of their shipwreck. 

24 * 


LOSS OF HIS B. MAJESTY’S SHIP AMPHION. 


The Amphion frigate, Captain Israel Pellow, after hav¬ 
ing cruised some time in the North Seas, had at length 
received an order to join the squadron of frigates com¬ 
manded by Sir Edward Pellow. She was on her passage, 
when a hard gale of wind occasioning some injury to 
the fore-mast, obliged her to put back into Plymouth, 
olf which place she then was. She accordingly came 
into the Sound, anchored there on the 19th, and went up 
into harbor the next morning. 

On the 22d, at about half past four P. M., a violent 
shock, as of an earthquake, was felt at Stone-house, and 
extended as far off as the Royal hospital and the town of 
Plymouth. The sky towards the Dock appeared red, 
like the effect of a fire; for near a quarter of an hour, the 
cause of this appearance could not be ascertained, though 
the streets were crowded with people running different 
ways in the utmost consternation. 

When the alarm and confusion had somewhat sub¬ 
sided, it first began to be known that the shock had been 
occasioned by the explosion of the Amphion. Several 
bodies and mangled remains were picked up by the boats 
in Harmoaze ; and their alacrity on this occasion was par¬ 
ticularly remarked and highly commended. The few 
who remained alive of the crew were conveyed, in a 
mangled state, to the Royal Hospital. As the frigate was 
originally manned from Plymouth, the friends and rela¬ 
tions of her unfortunate ship’s company mostly lived in 
the neighborhood. It is dreadful to relate what a scene 
took place—arms, legs and lifeless trunks, mangled and 
disfigured by gunpowder, were collected and deposited 
at the hospital, having been brought in sacks to be own¬ 
ed. Bodies still living, some with the loss of limbs, 
others having expired as they were being conveyed thith¬ 
er; men, women and children, whose sons, husbands, 
and fathers were among the unhappy number, flocking 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP AMPHION. 283 

round the gates, entreating admittance. During the first 
evening nothing was ascertained concerning the cause of 
this event, though numerous reports were instantly cir¬ 
culated. The few survivors, who, by the following day, 
had, in some degree, regained the use of their senses, 
could not give the least account. One man who was 
brought alive to the Royal Hospital, died before night, 
another before the following morning; the boatswain and 
one of the sailors appeared likely, with great care, to do 
well. Three or four men who were at work in the tops, 
were blown up with them, and falling into the water, 
were picked up with very little hurt. These, with the 
two before mentioned, and one of the sailors, wives, were 
supposed to be the only survivors, besides the captain and 
two of the lieutenants. 

The following particulars were, however, collected 
from the examination of several persons before Sir 
Richard King, the port-admiral, and the information pro¬ 
cured from those, who saw the explosion from the Dock. 

The first person known to have observed any thing 
was a young midshipman in the Cambridge guard-ship, 
lying not far distant from the place where the Amphion 
blew up ; who having a great desire to observe every 
thing relative to a profession into which he had just en¬ 
tered,was looking through a glass at the frigate, as she 
lay along side of the sheer-hulk, and was taking in her 
bowsprit. She was lashed to the hulk ; and the Yar¬ 
mouth, an old receiving ship, was lying on the oppo¬ 
site side, quite close to her, and both within a few yards 
of the Dock-yard jetty. The midshipman said, that the 
Amphion suddenly appeared to rise altogether upright 
from the surface of the water, until he nearly saw the 
keel; the explosion then succeeded ; the masts seemed to 
be forced up into the air, and the hull instantly to sink. 
All this passed in the space of two minutes. 

The man who stood at the Dock-yard stairs, said, that 
the first he heard of it was a kind of hissing noise, and 
then followed the explosion, when he beheld the masts 
blown up into the air. It was very strongly reported 
that several windows were broken in the Dock by the 


284 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


explosion, and that in the Dock-yard, much mischief was 
done by the Amphion’s guns going off when she blew up * 
but though the shock was felt as far off as Plymouth, 
and at Stone-house, enough to shake the windows, yet 
it is a wonderful and miraculous fact, that surrounded 
as she was in the harbor, with ships close along-side of 
the jetty, and lashed to another vessel, no damage was 
done to any thing but herself. It is dreadful to reflect, 
that owing to their intention of putting to sea the next 
day, there were nearly one hundred men, women and 
children, more than her complement on board, taking 
leave of their friends, besides the company who were at 
two dinners given in the ship, one of which was by the 
captain. 

Captain Israel Pellow, and captain William SwafAeld, 
of his Majesty’s ship Overyssel, who was at dinner with 
him and the first lieutenant, were drinking their wine; 
when the first explosion threw them off their seats, and 
struck them against the carlings of the upper deck, so as 
to stun them. Captain Pellow, however, had sufficient 
presence of mind to fly to the cabin-windows, and see¬ 
ing the two hawsers, one slack in the bit and the other 
taut, threw himself with an amazing leap, which he af¬ 
terwards said, nothing but his sense of danger could 
have enabled him to take, upon the latter, and by that 
means saved himself from the general destruction, 
though his face had been badly cut against the carlings, 
when he was thrown from his seat. The first lieutenant 
saved himself in the same manner, by jumping out of 
the window, and by being also a remarkably good swim¬ 
mer; but captain Swaffield, being, as it was supposed, 
more stunned, did not escape. His body was found on 
the twenty-second of October, with his skull fractured, 
appearing to have been crushed between the sides of the 
vessels. 

The sentinel at the cabin door happened to be looking 
at his watch ; how he escaped no one can tell, not even 
himself. He was, however, brought on shore, and but 
little hurt; the first thing he felt was, that his watch was 
dashed out of his hands, after which he was no longer 


LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP AMPHION. 285 

sensible of what happened to him. The boatswain was 
standing on the cat-head; the bowsprit had been stepped 
for three hours; the gammoning and every thing on; and 
he was directing the men in rigging out the jib-boom, 
when suddenly he felt himself driven upwards and fell 
into the sea. He then perceived that he was entangled 
in the rigging, and had some trouble to get clear; when 
being taken up by a boat belonging to one of the men of 
war, they found that his arm was broken. One of the 
surviving seamen declared to an officer of rank, that he 
was preserved in the following truly astonishing manner: 
—He was below at the time the Amphion blew up, and 
went to the bottom of the ship ; he recollected that he had 
a knife in his pocket, and taking it out, cut his way 
through the companion of the gun-room, which was al¬ 
ready shattered with the explosion; then letting himself 
up to the surface of the water, he swam unhurt to the 
shore. He showed his knife to the officer, and declared 
he had been under water full five minutes. 

It was likewise said, that one of the sailor’s wives had 
a young child in her arms ; the fright of the shock made 
her take such fast hold of it, that though the upper part 
of her body alone remained, the child was found alive, 
locked fast in her arms, and likely to do well. 

Mr. Spry, an auctioneer who had long lived in great 
respectability at Dock, with his son and god-son, had 
gone on board to visit a friend, and were all lost. 

About half an hour before the frigate blew up, one of 
her lieutenants, and lieutenant Campbell of the marines, 
and some of the men got into the boat at the dock-yard 
stairs, and went off to the ship. Lieutenant Campbell 
had some business to transact at the Marine barracks in 
the morning, and continuing there some time, was en¬ 
gaged by the officers to stay to dinner and spend the 
evening with them. Some persons, however, who had, 
in the interval, come from the Amphion, informed lieu¬ 
tenant Campbell there were some letters on board for him. 
As they were some which he was extremely anxious to 
receive, he left the barracks about half an hour before 
dinner to fetch them, intending to return immediately; 


286 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


but while he was on board, the ship blew up. He was a 
young man universally respected and lamented by the 
corps, as well as by all who knew him. One of the lieu¬ 
tenants who lost his life was the only support of an aged 
mother and sister, who, at his death, had neither friend 
nor relation left to comfort and protect them. The num¬ 
ber of people who were afterwards daily seen at Dock, in 
deep mourning for their lost relatives, was truly melan¬ 
choly. 

Captain Pellow was taken up by the boats and carried 
to the Commissioner Fanshaw’s house, in the dock-yard, 
very weak with the exertions he had made,and so shocked 
with the distressing cause of them, that he at first appeared 
scarcely to know where he was, or to be sensible of his 
situation. In the course of a day or two, when he was 
a little recovered, he was removed to the house of a 
friend, Dr. Hawker of Plymouth. 

Sir Richard King had given a public dinner in honor 
of the coronation. Captain Charles Rowley, of the Unite 
frigate, calling in the morning, was engaged to stay, and 
excused himself from dining, as he had previously in¬ 
tended, on board the Amphion. 

Captain Darby of the Bellerophon, was also to have 
dined with captain Pellow, and had come round in his 
boat from Cawsand Bay; but having to transact some 
business concerning the ship with Sir Richard King, it de¬ 
tained him half an hour longer at Stone-house than he 
expected. He had just gone down to the beach, and was 
stepping into the boat to proceed up to Harmoaze when 
he heard the fatal explosion. Captain Swaffield was to 
have sailed the next day, so that the difference of twenty 
four hours would have saved that much lamented and 
truly valuable officer. His brother, Mr. J. Swaffield, of 
the Pay-Office, being asked to the same dinner, had set 
off with him from Stone-house, but before he had reached 
the Dock, a person came after him upon business, which 
obliged him to return, and thus saved him from sharing 
his brother’s untimely fate. 

Many conjectures were formed concerning the cause 
of this catastrophe. Some conceived it to be owing tt» 


LOSS OP HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP AMPHION. 287 

neglect, as the men were employed in drawing the guns, 
and contrary to rule, had not extinguished all the fires, 
though the dinners were over. This, however, the first 
lieutenant declared to be impossible, as they could not 
be drawing the guns, the key of the magazine hanging, 
to his certain knowledge, in his cabin, at the time. Some 
of the men likewise declared that the guns were drawn 
in the Sound, before they came to Harmoaze. It was also 
insinuated, that it was done intentionally, as several of 
the bodies were afterwards found without clothes, as if 
they Ijad prepared to jump overboard before the ship 
could have time to blow up. As no mutiny had ever ap¬ 
peared in the ship, it seems unlikely that such a desperate 
plot should have been formed, without any one who sur¬ 
vived, having the least knowledge of it. It is, besides, a 
well-known fact, that in almost every case of shipwreck, 
where there is a chance of plunder, there are wretches so 
destitute of the common feelings of humanity as to hover 
round the scene of horror, in hopes, by stripping the 
bodies of the dead, and seizing whatever they can lay 
their hands on, to benefit themselves. 

It was the fore-magazine which took fire ; had it been 
the after one, much more damage must have ensued. 
The moment the explosion was heard, Sir Richard arose 
from dinner, and went in his boat on board the hulk, 
where the sight he beheld was dreadful; the deck covered 
vith blood, mangled limbs and entrails blackened with 
gunpowder, the shreds of the Amphion’s pendant and 
rigging hanging about her, and pieces of her shattered 
timbers strewed all around. Some people at dinner in the 
Yarmouth, though at a very small distance, declared that 
the report they heard did not appear to be louder than 
the firing of a cannon from the Cambridge, which they 
imagined it to be, and had never risen from dinner, till 
the confusion upon deck led them to think that some ac¬ 
cident had happened. 

At low water, the next day, about a foot and a half of 
one of the masts appeared above water ; and for several 
days, the dock-yard men were employed in collecting the 
shattered masts and yards, and dragging out what they 


288 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


could procure from the wreck. On the twenty-ninth, 
part of the fore-chains was hauled, shattered and splin¬ 
tered, also the head and cut-water. 

On the 3rd of October, an attempt was made to raise 
the Amphion, between the two frigates, the Castor and 
Iphigenia, which were accordingly moored on each side 
of her; but nothing could be got up, excepting a few 
pieces of the ship, one or two of her guns, some of the 
men’s chests, chairs, and part of the furniture of the 
cabin. Some bodies floated out from between decks, 
and among the rest a midshipman’s. These, and all 
that could be found, were towed round by boats through 
Stone-house bridge, up to the Royal Hospital stairs, to be 
interred in the burying-ground. The sight for many 
weeks was truly dreadful; the change of tide washing 
out the putrid bodies, which were towed round by the 
boats when they would scarcely hold together. 

Bodies continued to be found so late as the 30th of 
November, when the Amphion having been dragged 
round to another part of the dock-yard jetty, to be broken 
up, the body of a woman was washed out from between 
decks. A sack was also dragged up, containing gun¬ 
powder, covered over at the top with biscuit, and this 
in some measure confirmed an idea which had before 
gained ground, that the gunner had been stealing powder 
to sell, and had concealed what he could get out by de¬ 
grees, in the above manner; and that, thinking himself 
safe on a day when every one was entertaining his 
friends, he had carelessly been among the gunpowder 
without taking the necessary precautions. As he was 
said to have been seen at Dock very much in liquor in 
the morning, it seems probable that this might have been 
the cause of a calamity as sudden as it was dreadful. 


LOSS OF THE HELEN McGREGOR. 

The following is a description, by a passenger, of one 
of the most fatal steam-boat disasters that has ever oc¬ 
curred on the western waters. 



LOSS OF THE STEAM-BOAT HELEN M l GREG0R. 289 

“On the morning of the 24th of February. 1830, the 
Helen M‘Gregor stopped at Memphis, on the Mississippi 
river, to deliver freight, and land a number of passengers, 
who resided, in that section of Tennessee. The time 
occupied in so doing could not have exceeded three 
quarters of an hour. When the boat landed, I went 
ashore to see a gentleman with whom I had some busi¬ 
ness. I found him on the beach, and after a short con¬ 
versation, I returned to the boat. I recollect looking at my 
watch as 1 passed the gang-way. It was half past eight 
o’clock. A great number of persons were standing on 
what is called the boiler-deck, being that part of the up¬ 
per deck situated immediately over the boilers. It was 
crowded to excess, and presented one dense mass of hu¬ 
man bodies. In a few minutes we s&t down to breakfast 
in the cabin. The table, although extending the whole 
length of the cabin, was completely filled, there being 
upwards of sixty cabin passengers, among whom were 
several ladies and children. The number of passengers 
on board, deck and cabin united, was between four and 
five hundred. I had almost finished my breakfast, when 
the pilot rang his bell for the engineer to put the machi¬ 
nery in motion. The boat having just shoved off, I was 
in the act of raising my cup to my lips, the tingling of the 
pilot bell yet on my ear, when I heard an explosion, re¬ 
sembling the discharge of a small piece of artillery—the 
report was perhaps louder than usual in such cases, for an 
exclamation was half uttered by me that the gun was well 
loaded, when the rushing sound of steam, and the rat¬ 
tling of glass in some of the cabin windows, checked my 
speech and told too well what had occurred. I almost 
involuntarily bent my head and body down to the floor 
—a vague idea seemed to shoot across my mind that 
more than one boiler might burst, and that by assuming 
this posture, the destroying matter would pass over with¬ 
out touching me. 

The general cry of “ a boiler has burst” resounded from 
one end of the table to the other 5 and, as if by a simul¬ 
taneous movement, all started on their feet. Then com¬ 
menced a general race to the ladies’ cabin, which lay more 
25 


290 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


towards the stern of the boat. All regard to order or 
deference to sex seemed to be lost in the struggle for 
which should be first and farthest removed from the 
dreaded boilers. The danger had already passed away ! 

I remained standing by the chair on which I had been 
previously sitting. Only one person or two staid in the 
cabin with me. As yet no more than half a minute had 
elapsed since the explosion; but, in that brief space how 
had the scene changed ! In that “ drop of time” what 
confusion, distress and dismay ! An instant before, and 
all were in the quiet repose of security—another, and 
they were overwhelmed with alarm and consternation. 
It is but justice to say that in this scene of terror, the 
dadies exhibited a degree of firmness worthy of all praise. 
No screaming, no fainting; their fears, when uttered, 
were for their husbands and children, not for themselves. 

I advanced from my position to one of the cabin-doors, 
for the purpose of inquiring who were injured, when just 
as I reached it, a man entered at the opposite one, both his 
hands covering his face, and exclaiming “ Oh God, Oh 
God 1 I am lost! I am ruined !” He immediately began 
to tear off his clothes. When stripped, he presented a 
most shocking and afflicting spectacle ; his face was en¬ 
tirely black—his body without a particle of skin. He 
had been flayed alive. He gave me his name, and place 
of abode—then sank in a state of exhaustion and agony 
on the floor. I assisted in placing him on a mattrass 
taken from one of the berths, and covered him with 
blankets. He complained of heat and cold as at once 
oppressing him. He bore his torments with maniy for¬ 
titude, yet a convulsive shriek would occasionally burst 
from him. His wife, his children, were his constant 
theme ; it was hard to die without seeing them—“ it was 
hard to go without bidding them one farewell!” Oil and 
cotton were applied to his wounds; but he soon became 
insensible to earthly misery. Before I had done attend¬ 
ing to him, the whole floor of the cabin was covered with 
unfortunate sufferers. Some bore up under the horrors 
of their situation with a degree of resolution amounting 
to heroism. Others were wholly overcome by the sense 


LOSS OF THE STEAM-BOAT HELEN M c GREGOR- 291 

of pain, the suddenness of the disaster, and the near ap¬ 
proach of death, which even to them was evident— 
whose pangs they already felt. Some implored us, as an 
act of humanity, to complete the work of destruction, 
and free them from present suffering. One entreated the 
presence of a clergyman to pray by him, declaring he 
was not fit to die. I inquired; none could be had. On 
every side were to be heard groans and mingled excla¬ 
mations of grief and despair. 

To add to the confusion, persons were every moment 
running about to learn the fate of their friends and rela¬ 
tives, fathers, sons, brothers; for, in this scene of un¬ 
mixed calamity, it was impossible to say who were 
saved, or who had perished. The countenances of many 
were so much disfigured as to be past recognition. My 
attention, after some time, was particularly drawn to¬ 
wards a poor fellow who lay unnoticed on the floor, 
without uttering a single word of complaint. He was at 
a little distance removed from the rest. He was not 
much scalded, but one of his thighs was broken, and a 
principal artery had been severed, from which the blood 
was gushing rapidly. He betrayed no displeasure at 
the apparent neglect with which he was treated—he was 
perfectly calm. I spoke to him; he said “ he was very 
weak; but felt himself going—it would soon be over.” 
A gentleman ran for one of the physicians; he came, 
and declared that if expedition were used, he might be 
preserved by amputating the limb ; but that, to effect this, 
it would be necessary to remove him from the boat. Un¬ 
fortunately, the boat was not sufficiently near to run a 
plank ashore. We were obliged to wait until it could be 
close-hauled. I stood by him calling for help; we 
placed him on a mattrass, and bore him to the guards; 
there we were detained some time, from the cause 1 have 
mentioned. Never did any thing appear to me so slow 
as the movement of those engaged in hauling the boat. 

I knew and he knew, that delay was death—that life 
was fast ebbing. I could not take my gaze from his 
face, there all was coolness and resignation. No word 
or gesture indicative of impatience escaped him. He 


292 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


perceived by my loud, and perhaps angry tone of voice, 
how much I was excited by what I thought the barba¬ 
rous slowness of those around; he begged me not to take 
so much trouble; that they were doing their best. At 
length we got him on shore. It was too late; he was 
too much exhausted, and died immediately after the 
amputation. 

So soon as I was relieved from attending on those in 
the cabin, l went to examine that part of the boat where 
the boiler had burst. It was a complete wreck—a pic¬ 
ture of destruction. It bore ample testimony of the tre¬ 
mendous force of that power which the ingenuity of man 
has brought to his aid. The steam had given every 
thing a whitish hue—the boilers were displaced—the 
deck had fallen down—the machinery was broken and 
disordered. Bricks, dirt, and rubbish, were scattered 
about. Close by the bowsprit was a large rent through 
which, I was told, the boiler after exploding, had passed 
out, carrying one or two men in its mouth. Several 
dea^l bodies were lying around; their fate had been an 
enviable one compared with that of others; they could 
scarcely have been conscious of a pang ere they had 
ceased to be. On the starboard wheel-house lay a hu¬ 
man body, in which life was not yet extinct, though ap¬ 
parently, there was no sensibility remaining. The body 
must have been thrown from the boiler deck, a distance 
of thirty feet. The whole of the forehead had been 
blown away; the brains were still beating. Tufts of 
hair, shreds of clothing, and splotches of blood might be 
seen in every direction. A piece of skin was picked up 
by a gentleman on board, which appeared to have been 
peeled off by the force of the steam; it extended from 
the middle of the arm down to the tips of the fingers, 
the nails adhering to it. So dreadful had been the force 
that not a particle of the flesh adhered to it; the most 
skilful operator could scarcely have effected such a re¬ 
sult. Several died from inhaling the steam or gas, 
whose skin was almost uninjured. 

The number of lives lost will, in all probability, never 
be distinctly known. Many were seen flung into the 


Loss of the steam-boat hElen m’gregor. 293 

river, most of whom sank to rise no more. Could the 
survivors have been kept together until the list of pas¬ 
sengers was called, the precise loss would have been as¬ 
certained ; that, however, though it had been attempted, 
would, under the circumstances, have been next to im¬ 
possible. 

Judging from the crowd which I saw on the boiler- 
deck immediately before the explosion, and the state¬ 
ment which I received as to the number of those who 
succeeded in swimming out, after they were cast into the 
river, I am inclined to believe that between fifty and 
sixty must have perished. 

The cabin passengers escaped, owing to the peculiar 
construction of the boat. Just behind the boilers were 
several large iron posts, supporting, I think, the boiler 
deck; across each post was a large circular plate of iron 
of between one and two inches in thickness. One of 
those posts was placed exactly opposite the head of the 
boiler which burst, being the second one on the starboard 
side. Against this plate, the head struck, and penetrated 
to the depth of an inch, then broke and flew off at an 
angle, entering a cotton-bale to the depth of a foot. 
The boiler-head was in point blank range with the 
breakfast-table in the cabin, and had it not been obstruct¬ 
ed by the iron post must have made a clear sweep of 
those who were seated at the table. 

To render any satisfactory account of the cause which 
produced the explosion, can hardly be expected from one 
who possesses no scientific or practical knowledge on the 
subject, and who previously thereto was paying no 
attention to the management of the boat. The captain 
appeared to be very active and diligent in attending to 
his duty. He was on the boiler-deck when the explo¬ 
sion occurred; was materially injured by that event, 
and must have been ignorant of the mismanagement, if 
any there was. 

From the engineer alone, could the true explanation 
be afforded; and, if indeed it was really attributable to 
negligence, it can scarcely be supposed he will lay the 
blame on himself. If I might venture a suggestion m 
25* 


294 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS* 


relation thereto, I would assign the following causes 
That the water in the starboard boilers had become low, 
in consequence of that side of the boat resting upon the 
ground during our stay at Memphis; that, though the 
fires were kept up some time before we shoved off, 
the head which burst had been cracked for a considera¬ 
ble time; that the boiler was extremely heated, and the 
water thrown in when the boat was again in motion, 
was at once converted into steam, and the flues not be¬ 
ing sufficiently large to carry it off as quickly as it was 
generated, nor the boiler-head of a strength capable of 
resisting its action, the explosion was a natural result.” 


.... - - 

LOSS OF THE SHIP BEYERLY. 

The ship Beverly, captain Moore, bound to Yalparai- 
so, was burnt at sea, on the 13th November, 1826. She 
was upwards of seven hundred tons burthen, owned by 
Israel Thorndike, of Boston, and the value of the ship 
and cargo was estimated at one hundred and eighteen 
thousand debars. 

On the 13th of November, latitude 6, 26, longitude 27, 
2, at half past three, P. M., the ship was discovered to 
be on fire in the fore peak, and every exertion was made 
to extinguish it, for three hours, but without success. 
From the inflammable nature of the cargo, (which con¬ 
sisted of tar, rosin, pitch, turpentine, linseed-oil, spirits 
and cabinet furniture,) the fire spread with alarming ra¬ 
pidity. They succeeded in getting out the boats, into 
which the officers and crew were divided, and in a few 
minutes left her, having previously taken in a quantity 
of provisions. They lay-by to the windward, until 
about ten o’clock, when the ship had burnt to the wa¬ 
ter’s edge, and then shaped their course for the coast of 
Brazil. Finding their progress retarded by waiting for 
each other, they mutually agreed to separate, on the 
third day after leaving the ship. There were nine in the 
pinnace, fifteen in the long-boat, and six in the whale- 



LOSS OF THE FRANCES MARY. 295 

boat, making a total of thirty persons cast adiift on the 
open ocean. 

On the 3d of December, the pinnace landed at 1'araibo, 
three weeks after abandoning the .ship. Captain Moore 
stated that while he was in the boat, he had fine weather, 
and with the aid of a sail, averaged over ninety miles a 
day, using the oars but once during the passage. He 
computed the distance run by the boat at nearly sixteen 
hundred miles. The fire originated through the care¬ 
lessness of the cook, who went below with a lantern, 
and it is supposed took the candle out. The flames 
spread so rapidly, that he had his clothes and skin burnt, 
before he could be extricated, and finally died of his 
wounds in the boat. 

One of the boys, who arrived with captain Moore in 
the pinnace, after having escaped the perils of “ fire and 
flood,” was so unfortunate as to have one of his legs bit 
off by a shark, while bathing, soon after he landed. 


LOSS OF THE FRANCES MARY. 

The Frances Mary was a new ship, of about four 
hundred tons burthen, commanded by captain Kendall r 
and bound from New Brunswick to Liverpool, laden 
with timber. We publish the following particulars of 
this dreadful disaster as related by captain Kendall. 

Sailed from St. Johns, N. B., January 18,1826. Feb¬ 
ruary 1, strong gales from the W. N. W.; carried 
away the main-topmast and mizzen-mast head; hove 
to, got boat’s sails in the main rigging, to keep the 
ship to the wind. At 11, P. M., shipped a heavy sea, 
which washed away the caboose, jolly-boat, and disa¬ 
bled five men. February 2d, cleared away the wreck 
and made sail before the wind; strong breezes. Febru¬ 
ary 5, 11, A. M., strong gales, with a heavy sea; clewed 
up the $ails and hove to, head to the southward; ship¬ 
ped a sea, which carried away the long-boat, companion, 
tiller, the best bower-chain, unshipped the rudder, and 
21 * 



296 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS, 


washed a man overboard, who was afterwards saved. 
At 10. P. M. another heavy sea struck us, which stove 
in our stern. Cut away our foremast and both bower 
anchors, to keep the ship to the wind. Employed in 
getting what provision we could, by knocking out the 
bow-port; saved fifty pounds of bread and five pounds 
of cheese, which we stowed in the maintop. Cot the 
master’s wife and female passenger up, whilst we were 
clearing away below, lightening the ship; most of the 
people slept in the top. At daylight, found Patrick Con- 
ney hanging by his legs to the cat-harpins, dead from fa¬ 
tigue ; committed his body to the deep. 

Feburary 6, at 8, A. M., saw a strange sail standing 
towards us; made signals of distress,—stranger spoke 
us, and remained in company twenty-four hours, but 
gave us no assistance; the American making an excuse 
that the sea was running too high. Made a tent of spare 
canvass on the forecastle—put the people on nn allow¬ 
ance of a quarter of a biscuit a day. February 8, saw a 
brig to leeward—strong gales. February 9, 10, A. M., 
observed the same vessel to windward—made the signal 
of distress; stranger bore up and showed American co¬ 
lors. February 10, she spoke us, asking how long we 
had been in that situation, and what we intended to do, 
if we intended leaving the ship 7 Answered yes. He 
then asked if we had any rigging? Answered yes. 
Night coming on, and blowing hard, saw no more of the 
stranger. Suffered from hunger and thirst. 

On the 11th, saw a large ship to the northward—did 
not speak her; wore head to the northward. At this 
time all our provisions were out; suffered much from 
hunger, having received no nourishment for nine days. 
February 12, departed this life, James Clark, seaman ;— 
read prayers, and committed his body to the deep. We 
were at this time on a half gill of water a day, and suf¬ 
fered much from hunger. During the whole period of 
being on the wreck we were wet from top to toe. Feb¬ 
ruary 22, John Wilson, seaman, died at 10, A. M.; pre¬ 
served the body of the deceased, cut him up in quarters, 
washed them overboard, and hung them up on pins. 


LOSS OF THE FRANCES MARY. 


297 


February 23, J. Moors died, and was thrown overboard, 
having eaten part of him, such as the liver and heart. 
From this date to Saturday, 5th of March, the following 
number perished from hunger, viz. Henry Davis, a 
Welsh boy, Alex. Kelley, seaman, John Jones, appren¬ 
tice boy, nephew of the owner, James Frier, cook, Da¬ 
niel Jones, seaman, John Hutchinson, seaman, and John 
Jones, a boy—threw the last named overboard, his blood 
being bitter. 

James Frier was working his passage home, under a 
promise of marriage to Ann Saunders, the female passen¬ 
ger who attended on the master’s wife, and who, when 
she heard of Frier’s death, shrieked a loud yell, then 
snatching a cup from Clerk, the mate, cut her late in¬ 
tended husband’s throat and drank his blood ! insisting 
that she had the greatest right to it. A scuffle ensued, 
but the heroine got the better of her adversary, and then 
allowed him to drink one cup to her two. 

February 26, on or about this day an English brig 
hove in sight; hoisted the ensign downward; stranger 
hauled his wind towards us, and hauled his foresail up 
when abreast of us; kept his course about one mile dis¬ 
tant—set his foresail, and we soon lost sight of him— 
fresh breeze with a little rain—the sea quite smooth, but 
he went off, having shown English colors. Had he at 
this time taken us off the wreck, much of the subsequent 
dreadful sufferings would have been spared us. 

March 7. His B. M. ship Blonde came in sight, and 
to our relief, in latitude 44, 43, north, longitude 31, 57, 
west. Words are quite inadequate to express our feel¬ 
ings, as well as those which Lord Byron and our deli¬ 
verers most evidently possessed, when they had come to 
rescue six of their fellow-creatures, two of them females, 
from a most awful, lingering, but certain death. It came 
on to blow during the night a fresh gale, which would 
no doubt have swept us all overboard. Lieutenant 
Gambier came in the ship’s cutter to bring us from the 
wreck. He observed to us, “ You have yet, I perceive, 
fresh meat.” To which we were compelled to reply, 
“ No, sir, it is part of a man, one of our unfortunate 


298 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


crew,—it was our intention to put ourselves on an al¬ 
lowance even of this food, this evening, had not you 
come to our relief.” The master’s wife, who underwent 
all the most horrid sufferings which the human under¬ 
standing can imagine, bore them much better than could 
possibly have been expected. She is now, although 
much emaciated, a respectable, good-looking woman, 
about twenty-five years of age, and the mother of a boy 
seven years old. But what must have been the extre¬ 
mity of want to which she was driven, when she ate 
the brains of one of the apprentices, saying it was the 
most delicious thing she ever tasted ; and it is still more 
melancholy to relate, that the person, whose brains she 
was thus forced by hunger to eat, had been three times 
wrecked before, but was providentially picked up by a 
vessel, after being twenty-two days on the wreck, wa¬ 
ter-logged: but in the present instance, he perished, 
(having survived similar sufferings for a space of twenty- 
nine days,) and then became food for his remaining ship¬ 
mates ! 

Ann Saunders, the other female, had more strength in 
her calamity than most of the men. She performed the 
duty of cutting up and cleaning the dead bodies, keep¬ 
ing two knives for the purpose in her monkey jacket; and 
when the breath was announced to have flown, she 
would sharpen her knives, bleed the deceased in the 
neck, drink his blood, and cut him up as usual. From 
want of water, those who perished drank their own 
urine and salt water. They became foolish, and crawl¬ 
ed upon their hands round the deck when they could, 
and died, generally, raving mad ! 

After floating about the ocean for some months, this 
ill-fated vessel was fallen in with by an English ship, 
and carried into Jamaica, where she was refitted, and 
again sent to sea. The putrid remains of human bodies, 
which had been the only food of the unfortunate sur¬ 
vivors, was found on board the vessel. 


LOSS OF THE SHIP ALBION. 


The following account of this melancholy shipwreck 
was given by Henry Cammyer, first mate of the vessel. 

We sailed from New York on the first of April, 1822, 
in the ship Albion, of four hundred and forty-seven tons, 
with a crew, including officers, of twehty-five in num¬ 
ber, besides twenty-three cabin, and six steearge pas¬ 
sengers ; making in the whole fifty-four persons, only 
nine of whom now live to relate the melancholy tale. 
For the first twenty days, we continued our voyage with 
moderate and favorable weather; and at about half past 
one o’clock, in the afternoon of Sunday the 21st, we made 
the land. The Fastnet rock bore by compass, E. N. E., 
distant about three leagues. At two, made cape Clear, 
bearing east and by north, distance about two leagues. 
Thick and foggy, blowing fresh, and heavy squalls from 
the southward. Ship heading up E. S. E., carrying all 
prudent sail, t# crowd the ship off the land. The gale 
increasing, shortened sail occasionally. At four o’clock, 
then under double reefed topsails, foresail, and mainsail, 
carried away the foreyard, and split the foretopsail. 
Got the pieces of the yard down, and prepared to get 
another yard up. Gale increasing, about half past four, 
took in the mainsail and mizzen-topsail, and set the main- 
trysail. Night coming on, cleared the decks for work¬ 
ing ship. At half past eight, gale still increasing, with 
a high sea. Shipped a heavy sea, which threw the ship 
on her beam-ends, and carried away the mainmast by 
the deck, the head of the mizzen-mast, and fore-topmast, 
and swept the decks clear of every thing, including boats, 
caboose house, bulwarks, and compasses, and stove in 
all the hatches, state rooms, and bulwarks in the cabin, 
which \yas nearly filled with water. At the same mo¬ 
ment, six of the crew and one cabin passenger, Mr. A. 
B. Con vers, of Troy, N. Y., were swept overboard. 


300 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


The ship being unmanageable, and the sea making a 
complete breach over her, we were obliged to lash our¬ 
selves to the pumps, and being in total darkness, with¬ 
out correct compasses, could not tell how the ship’s head 
lay. The axes being swept away, had no means of 
clearing the wreck. About one o’clock, made the light 
of the Old Head of Kinsale, but could not ascertain how 
it bore; and at two, found the ship embayed. The cap¬ 
tain, anticipating our melancholy fate, called all the 
passengers up, who had not before been on deck. Many 
of them had received considerable injury when the sea 
first struck her, and were scarcely able to come on deck; 
others had been incessantly assisting at the pumps; and 
it is an interesting fact, that Miss Powell, an amiable 
young lady, who was on board, was desirous to be al¬ 
lowed to take her turn. One gentleman, who had been 
extremely ill during the passage, Mr. William Everhart, 
of Chester, Penn., was too feeble to crawl to the deck 
without assistance, but strange to say, he was the only 
cabin passenger who was saved. 

Our situation at that moment, is indescribable, and I 
can scarcely dwell upon, much less attempt to detail, its 
horrors. About three o’clock, the ship struck on a reef, 
her upper works beat in over the rocks, and in about 
half an hour after coming in over the first reef, she part¬ 
ed midships, and her quarter-deck drifted in on the top 
of the inside ledge, immediately under the cliffs. Up to 
the period of her parting, nearly twenty persons were 
clinging to the wreck, among whom were two females, 
Mrs. Pye, and Miss Powell. Captain Williams had, 
with several others, been swept away soon after she 
struck ; a circumstance which may be attributed to the 
very extraordinary exertions which he used, to the last 
moment, for the preservation of the lives of the unfortu¬ 
nate passengers and crew. 

A short time before she parted, myself and six of the 
crew got away from the vessel. After gaining a rock in 
a very exhausted state, I was washed off, but, by the as¬ 
sistance of Providence, was enabled, before the return 
of the sea, to regain it; and before I could attempt to 


LOSS OF THE SHIP ALBION. 


301 


climb the cliff, which was nearly perpendicular, I was 
obliged to lie down, tq regain a little strength, after the 
severe bruises and contusions I had received on the body 
and feet. One of the passengers, colonel Augustine J. 
Prevost, reached the rock with me alive, but was, toge¬ 
ther with one of the stewards, washed off and drowned. 

Some of the passengers were suffocated on deck and 
in the fore rigging, and some must have been destroyed 
by an anchor which was loose on the forecastle before 
the ship parted. It is scarcely possible to describe the 
devastation which followed. The entire cargo, consist¬ 
ing of cotton, rice, turpentine, and beeswax, together 
with a quantity of silver and gold, to a large amount, 
was in all directions beaten to pieces by the severity of 
the sea, without a possibility of saving it. 

Very soon after we got upon the cliffs, my poor ship¬ 
mates and myself found our way to a peasant’s cottage. 
Early in the morning, Mr. James B. Gibbens, of Ballin- 
spittle, came to me from the wreck, where he had been 
since five o’clock, endeavoring to save some of the lives. 
He most humanely sent Mr. Everhart, Mr. Raymond, 
the boy, and myself, to his house, about a mile from the 
spot, where we experienced the kindest and most hos¬ 
pitable attention. The remaining survivors were taken 
home by Mr. Purcell, steward of Thomas Rochfort, Esq. 
of Garretstown, where every attention was paid to them. 
Coffins were provided by Mr. Purcell, according to the 
orders of Mr. Rochfort, and the bodies that were found, 
were interred at Templetrine churchyard, about four 
miles from Kinsale and one from the fatal spot. The 
Rev. Mr. Evanson kindly officiated on the occasion. 
On Tuesday, I went to Kinsale to note a protest, and 
then first met Mr. Mark, the consul for the United States, 
who happened to be at Kinsale at that time on other 
business. He came over and gave directions for cloth¬ 
ing the sufferers, who were destitute of every thing. 

Unremitting exertions were used daily for the recovery 
of the goods and specie, but without success, as none of 
the cargo, and but a small part of the materials of the 
26 


302 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


vessel, were saved, together with property in specie to 
the amount of about five thousand pounds. 

The following is a correct list of the crew and passen¬ 
gers. 

Crew. John Williams, captain, drowned; Henry 
Cammyer, first mate, saved; Edward Smith, second 
mate, drowned; William Hyate, boatswain, saved; Al¬ 
exander Adams, carpenter, Harman Nelson, Harman 
Richardson, Henry Whittrell, William Trisserly, James 
Wiley, Robert McLellan, and Thomas Goodman, 
drowned ; John Simson, John Richards, Francis Bloom, 
and Ebenezer Warner, saved; Samuel Wilson and Wil¬ 
liam Snow, boys, drowned; William Dockwood, drown¬ 
ed, body found and interred; Hierom Raymond,, saved; 
Lloyd Potter, Samuel Penny, stewards, and Francis 
Isaac, boy, blacks, all drowned; Thomas Hill and Adam 
Johnson, cooks, blacks, both drowned, bodies found and 
interred. 

Cabin Passengers. W. Everhart, Esq., of Chester, 
Penn., saved; lieutenant-colonel Augustine J. Prevost, 
major William Gough, of the 68th regiment; Rev. G. 
R. G. Hill, last from Jamaica; Nelson Ross, of Troy, 
N. Y.; William H. Dwight, of Boston ; Mr. Beynon, of 
London; professor Fisher, of New-Haven college; Mr. 
William Proctor, of New York; Mr. and Mrs. Hyde 
Clark, Mrs. Pye and Miss Powell, of Canada, daughter 
of Judge Powell, all drowned, found and interred; Mr. 
A. B. Convers, of Troy, N. Y., and madame Gardiner 
and son, of Paris, drowned; (madame G.’s body was 
found and interred ;) five French gentlemen, names un¬ 
known, (except Mr. Victor Millicent,) drowned, found 
and interred. 

Steerage Passengers. Stephen Chase, of Canada, 
saved; Mrs. Mary Brereton, and Mary Hunt, drowned, 
found and interred; Mr. Harrison, carpenter, Mr. Bald¬ 
win, cotton spinner, from Yorkshire, England, and Dr. 
Carver, a veterinary surgeon, drowned. 

Four bodies were also found and interred that could 
not be recognised. 

The following account of the wreck of the Albion was 


LOSS OF THE SHIP ALBION. 


303 


communicated to the editor of the Village Record, of 
Chester, Pennsylvania, by William Everhart, Esq., after 
his return to the United States. Mr. Everhart, it will be 
recollected, was the only cabin passenger who was sav¬ 
ed, out of twenty-three persons. As his statement affords 
some additional particulars of the disaster that may be 
interesting, we publish it entire. 

Mr. Everhart says, that up to the 21st of April, the 
voyage had been prosperous and pleasant for the season, 
though he had himself suffered much from sea-sickness, 
and was almost constantly confined to his room. The 
storm of the day, it was supposed, was over; they were 
near to the coast, and all hands flattered themselves that 
in a short time, they should reach their destined harbor; 
but, about nine o’clock in the evening, a heavy sea struck 
the ship, swept several seamen from the deck, carried 
away her masts, and stove in her hatchways, so that 
every wave which passed over her, ran into the hold 
without any thing to stop it,—the railings were carried 
away, and the wheel which aided them to steer. In' 
short, that fatal wave left the Albion a wreck. She was 
then about twenty miles from the shore, and captain 
Williams steadily and coolly gave his orders; he cheer¬ 
ed the passengers and crew with the hope that the wind 
would shift, and before morning blow off shore. The 
sea was very rough, and the”vessel unmanageable; and 
the passengers were obliged to be tied to the pumps, that 
they might work them. All who could do no good on 
deck, retired below, but the water was knee deep in the 
cabin, and the furniture floating about, rendered the 
situation dangerous and dreadful. 

All night long, the wind blew a gale, directly on shore, 
towards which the Albion was drifting, at the rate of 
about three miles an hour. The complete hopelessness 
of their situation was known to few except captain Wil¬ 
liams. The coast was familiar to him; and he must 
have seen in despair and horror, throughout the night, 
the certainty of their fate. At length, the ocean, dashing 
and roaring upon the precipice of rocks, told them that 
their hour was come. Captain Williams summoned all 


304 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


on deck, and briefly told them that the ship must soon 
strike; it was impossible to preserve her. Mr. Everhart 
says, that he was the last that left the cabin. Professor 
Fisher was behind, but he is confident that he never 
came on deck, but perished below. Some, particularly 
the females, expressed their terror in wild shrieks. Ma¬ 
jor Gough, of the British army, remarked, that “ death, 
come as he would, was an unwelcome messenger, but 
that they must meet him like men.” Very little was 
said by the others; the men waited the expected shock 
in silence. General Lefevre Desnouetts, during the 
voyage, had evidently wished to remain without particu¬ 
lar observation; and to prevent his being known, be¬ 
sides taking passage under a feigned name, had suffered 
his beard to grow during the whole voyage. He had 
the misfortune, before the ship struck, to be much bruis¬ 
ed, and one of his arms was broken, which disabled 
him from exertion if it could have been availing. It is 
v .,not possible to conceive the horrors of their situation. 

The deadly and relentless blast impelling them to de¬ 
struction ; the ship a wreck; the raging of the billows 
against the precipice, on which they were driving, send¬ 
ing back from the caverns and the rocks, the hoarse and 
melancholy warnings of death, dark, cold, and wet! In 
such a situation the stoutest heart must have quaked in 
utter despair. When there is a ray of hope, there may 
' be a corresponding buoyance of spirit. When there is 
any thing to be done, the active man may drown the 
sense of danger while actively exerting himself; but 
here there was nothing to do but to die ! Just at the 
gray of dawn the Albion struck. 

The perpendicular precipice of rocks is nearly two 
hundred feet in height; the sea beating for ages against 
it has worn large caverns in its base, into which the 
waves rushed violently, sending back a deep and hollow 
sound, then, running out in various directions, formed 
whirlpools of great violence. For a perch or two from 
the precipice, rocks rise out of the water, broad at bot¬ 
tom and sharp at top; on one of these, the Albion first 
struck, the next wave threw her further on the rock, the 


LOSS OF THE SHIP ALBION. 


305 


third further still, until, nearly balanced, she swung 
round, and her stern was driven against another, near in 
shore. In this situation, every wave making a complete 
breach over her, many were drowned on deck. A wo¬ 
man, Mr. Everhart could not distinguish who, fell near 
him and cried for help. He left his hold and raised her 
up,—another wave came, but she was too far exhausted 
to sustain herself, and sank on the deck. Fifteen or 
sixteen corpses, at one time, Mr. Everhart thought, lay 
near the bows of the ship. 

Perceiving now that the stern was higher out of water, 
and the sea had less power in its sweep over it, Mr. 
Everhart went aft. He now perceived that the bottom 
had been broken out of the ship. The heavy articles 
must have sunk, and the cotton and lighter articles were 
floating around, dashed by every wave against the rocks. 
Presently the ship broke in two, and all those who re¬ 
mained near the bow were lost. Several from the stern 
of the ship had got on the side of the precipice, and wer&ti* 
hanging by the crags as well as they could. Although 
weakened by previous sickness and present suffering, 
Mr. Everhart made an effort and got upon the rock and 
stood upon one foot, the only hold that he could obtain. 
He saw several around him, and among the rest, colonel 
Prevost, who observed, on seeing him take his station, 

“ here is another poor fellow.” But the waves, rolling 
heavily against them, and often dashing the spray fifty 
feet above their heads, gradually swept those who had 
taken refuge one by one away; and one poor fellow los¬ 
ing his hold, grasped the leg of Mr. Everhart, and nearly 
pulled him from his place. Weak and sick as he was, 
Mr. Everhart stood several hours on one foot on a little 
crag, the billows dashing over him, and he benumbed 
with cold. 

As soon as it was light, and the tide ebbed so as to 
render it possible, the people descended the rocks as far 
as they could, and dropped him a rope, which he fasten¬ 
ed around his body, and was drawn out to a place of 
safety. Of twenty-three cabin passengers, lie alone es¬ 
caped ! Mr. Everhart mentions numerous instances of 
26 * 


306 


REMARKABLE 6HIPWRECtfS. 


the kindness shewn by the people to the survivors. A 
sailor was drawn ashore naked, and one of the peasants, 
although a cold rain was falling, took the shirt from his 
own back, and put it on that of the sufferer. Mr. Ever¬ 
hart himself was taken to the hospitable mansion of Mr. 
James B. Gibbens, where he lay for several weeks ex¬ 
ceedingly ill, receiving the kindest attention. “ They 
could not have treated me more tenderly,” said Mr. 
Everhart, 11 if 1 had been a brother.” 

The attentions paid the survivors, were in the style 
of true Irish hospitality. Such disinterested kindness 
exalts the human character, and is calculated to have 
not a limited effect, but will prove of national advantage. 

This terrible wreck and loss of lives, and on the part 
of Mr. Everhart, such a miraculous preservation, excited 
the public sensibility throughout Europe and America. 
When he landed at Liverpool, it was difficult for him to 
get along the streets, the people crowded around in such 
numbers to see the only passenger saved from the wreck 
of the Albion. 


LOSS OF THE SHIP LOGAN BY FIRE. 

The ship Logan, captain Bunker, was struck by 
lightning and consumed, on her passage from Savannah 
to Liverpool, on the 19th December, 1832. The follow¬ 
ing account of this dreadful accident was furnished by 
the captain. 

The Logan left Tybee on the 16th December, with a 
fair wind from south, which continued blowing a heavy 
sale from westward until the 19th, on which day, at 
forty-five minutes past one o’clock, P. M., she was struck 
by lightning, which descended the starboard pump; from 
thence it passed up the after-hatchway and went off. It 
was immediately observed that the ship was on fire, and 
the crew commenced breaking out cotton from the main 
hatchway, for the purpose of extinguishing it. In the 
course of half an hour, got into the lower hold, and on 



, struck by lightning. 





$ 







































































































































































































































































































' 
















Loss op the ship Logan by fire. 30 7 

the starboard side of the pump-well, found the cotton on 
fire. They commenced throwing on water and heaving 
the cotton overboard, first cutting the bales in pieces. 
After working in this way for some time, and heaving 
overboard eight or ten bales, it was found that the fire 
was raging between decks on the larboard side; they 
then left the lower hold, and commenced breaking out 
between decks, and in a short time broke out twenty or 
thirty bales; but the smoke became so suffocating as to 
oblige the hands to leave the hold and close the hatches. 

It was now night, and the ship was under close reefed 
topsails; after all the hatches were closed up, the upper 
decks began to grow hot: with the determination, there¬ 
fore, to save the ship and cargo if possible, holes were 
cut around the pumps and capstan, and water poured 
down, which was continued all night. At daylight, 
found that all the upper deck, from the mainmast to the 
after-hatch, was on fire, and in some places the deck had 
burnt through. The main hatches were taken off, and 
about one hour was spent in heaving down water, when 
the smoke became so dense that the men could stand it 
no longer. The hatches were then closed for the last 
time, and they continued throwing water through the 
holes that were cut, the fire still gaining so fast that no 
hope was left of saving the ship. 

The long-boat was now ordered out, and 60 gallons of 
water and what provision could be obtained, put on 
board, when the officers and crew, 16 in number, em¬ 
barked in her, (being in lat. 33 N. long. 66 W.) having 
saved nothing but a chronometer and quadrant, and what 
clothes they stood in. The nearest land was the island 
of Bermuda, which bore about S. E., 100 miles distant, 
which they endeavored to reach, but the wind blowing 
heavy from W. S. W., could not fetch it, but drifted to the 
eastward of it, when they fortunately fell in with the 
Grand Turk, and were rescued from a watery grave, after 
having been in the boat five days, most of which time it 
was blowing a gale. Captain Madigan kindly took them 
on board, and treated them with every attention which 
their distressed situation required. 



LOSS OP THE SHIP MARGARET, 


Of Salem, wrecked at sea on the 21st of May, 1810* 
The following account was published by captain Fair- 
field, after his arrival at Marblehead. 

We sailed from Naples, homeward bound, on the 10th 
of April, with a crew, including officers, of fifteen in 
number, together with thirty-one passengers, making 
forty-six in all, men and boys. We passed through the 
Gut of Gibraltar the 22d of April; nothing of moment 
occurred until Sunday, 20th May, when in latitude 40, 
north, longitude 39, 30, west, having strong breezes of 
wind at S. E. and E. S. E. and rainy weather; at 10 
A. M. took in royals, top-gallant studding-sails, fore and 
mizzen top-gallant-sails, jibs, stay-sails, and main-sail; 
at meridian, wind and weather continued as before-men¬ 
tioned ; at one P. M., on the 21st, the foretopmast studding 
sail halyards parted; the studding-sail fell overboard, fill¬ 
ed with water, and carried away the studding-sail boom; 
we took in lower studding-sail spanker, and mizzen top¬ 
sail, by which time it became squally, and we immedi¬ 
ately clewed down fore and main top-sail, and let fly the 
sheets—the wind shifted in an instant from E. S. E. to 
S. W., and although the helm was hard to weather, we 
could not get the ship before the wind, but was instantly 
hove on her beam ends. Every person on board the 
ship being at this time on deck, reached either the bot¬ 
tom or side of the ship, \nd held on. We secured an 
axe, and immediately cut away the weather lanyard of 
the shrouds, masts, and long-boat, which being done 
the ship righted, being full of water, her hatches off, 
chests, water-casks, &c., drifting amongst the wreck; 
the guns, anchors, caboose, and every article on deck, 
we hove overboard to lighten the ship, and endeavored 
to clear the wreck of spars, rigging, &c., which lay beat¬ 
ing against her to windward; but our efforts were in 
vain, the starboard lanyards of the shrouds being deep 


LOSS OF THE SHIP MARGARET. 


309 


under water, and fast to the ship, and the sea making a 
continual breach over her: during this time the long¬ 
boat lay beating among the wreck of spars, &c., bottom 
up, the pinnace being wrecked entirely to pieces except 
her keel, and about three streaks of the boards of her 
bottom lay in the same situation as the long-boat, and 
the stern boat lying at a small distance from the ship, 
full of water, with her gunwales torn off, butts started, 
and stem about half stove in. It was with the utmost 
difficulty that we bailed her out, and kept her so far free 
as to enable us to get a rope fast to the long-boat, by 
which we hauled her alongside the ship, turned her 
over and found her to be badly stove, her gunwales and 
stem broken entirely off, her wood-ends and garboard 
streak open, and large holes in her bottom, so that we 
found it impossible to bail her out, and we were under 
the necessity of upsetting her again in the sea, with th& 
nope of being able to stop a part of the holes in her bot¬ 
tom, which we in part effected by driving the butts to¬ 
gether and by putting canvass, &c., into the largest holes 
in her bottom; after which we turned her over again, 
and by continual bailing with every bucket, &c., which 
we could procure, we were enabled to keep her from 
sinking, still keeping under the lee of the ship. By this 
time it was about 7 P. M. ; when the boat being hauled 
near to the ship for the purpose of getting canvass and 
oakupi to stop the leak, as many men as could reach the 
long-boat jumped into her, and finding the boat would 
be again sunk if we remained so near the ship, we were 
obliged to veer the boat to leeward of the ship at the dis¬ 
tance of fifteen or twenty fathoms, being twelve in num¬ 
ber in the boat. We had not been in this situation but a 
short time, before one man jumped from the ship into the 
sea and made for the boat; we took him in, but finding 
that all on board were determined to pursue the same 
plan, we were obliged to veer the boat further off. We 
stated to those on board the ship our situation, which 
was also evident to them, as it required all our exertions 
to keep the boat from sinking. During the night, we lay 
with a rope fast from the ship to the boat, and under 


310 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


her lee, when the people on board the ship being exceed¬ 
ingly anxious to get into the boat, (which had they ef¬ 
fected we should all have been inevitably lost,) kept haul¬ 
ing the boat towards them; we then bent on another 
rope, and veered out as they hauled; but finding they 
were determined to sink the boat by getting into her, we 
were obliged (after stating repeatedly to them our situ¬ 
ation) to tell them, that provided they persisted in getting 
into the boat, we should be obliged, though very reluc¬ 
tantly, to cut the rope and leave them ; after which they 
desisted from hauling the boat towards the ship. At 
this time, we were thirteen in number in the long-boat, 
and two men in the stern-boat lying under the lee of the 
ship, continually bailing to keep her from sinking, which 
augmented our number to more than could with any de¬ 
gree of safety attempt to leave the ship, in the long-boat, 
in the shattered condition she was then in. ^ 

Monday morning,—moderate breezes and sea tolera¬ 
bly smooth; at which time the people on the wreck were 
about half of them on the taffrel rail, and the remainder 
on the bowsprit and windlass, every other part of her 
being under water continually. They kept entreating 
us to take them into the boat; we then told them our 
determination was to continue by the ship while she 
kept together, and that the boat was not in a situation to 
leave them, unless they attempted to come into her; but 
if any of them once made the attempt, we should be un¬ 
der that necessity, notwithstanding our wretched situ¬ 
ation, having no compass, quadrant, or any instrument 
whatever by which we could direct our course, nor a 
single drop of fresh water in the boat, and two men con¬ 
tinually bailing; all of which circumstances were known 
to them. 

Aboujt this time, casks of brandy and sundry other 
articles of the cargo were drifting from the wreck; 
amongst which we picked up the mizzen top-gallant 
sail, two spars, five oars, one cask of oil, one drowned 
pig, and one goat, one bag of bread, and they hove us a 
gallon keg of brandy from the ship; we then fixed a sail 
for the boat from the mizzen top-gallant sail. It being 


LOSS OF THE SHIP MARGARET. 


311 


now about 11, A. M. the people on the wreck were again 
determined to get into the boat, and began by jumping 
into the sea. Seeing their intention, we veered the boat 
further from the ship and they again returned to her, 
after which we repeated to them our determination to 
continue by them so long as the ship held together, but 
if any other person attempted to come into the boat, we 
should that instant leave them, notwithstanding our des¬ 
perate situation. At this time they had secured on the 
wreck, two quadrants, two compasses, one hogshead of 
water, bread, flour, and a plenty of provisions, as they 
frequently informed us; but they would not spare us 
any of these articles unless we consented to come along¬ 
side the ship with the boat, which had we done, we 
should have been sunk in an instant, as they were pre¬ 
pared to jump, having oars, chests, &c., ready for the 
purpose on the taflrel rail. Notwithstanding they knew 
our determination and the impossibility of our taking 
them into the boat, they still persisted in trying to get 
into her, and one of them jumped into the sea and made 
for the small boat, which lay veered to the leeward of the 
ship, which he reached ; but finding we would not take 
him into the long-boat, he returned to the ship with the 
small boat. As they were now all determined to pursue 
the same plan, we were under the painful necessity of 
cutting the rope by which we were fast to the ship, and 
row and sail from them for the preservation of our lives, 
in the hope of falling in with some vessel to relieve us, 
which was almost the only hope we had left, being about 
four hundred miles distant from the nearest land, and in 
the desperate situation before stated. At this time, it 
was about meridian, with moderate wind from the south¬ 
ward and westward; we made our course as nearly east 
as possible, for the island of Corvo or Flores, and the 
last we saw of the ship she was lying in the same situ¬ 
ation as when we parted from her. We continued our 
course to the eastward, having the winds variable from 
S. S. E. to N. W., and two men constantly bailing; 
steering in the night by the stars, when to be seen, and 
in dark cloudy weather by the heaving of the sea, and in 


312 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the daytime, by judging from the bearing of the sun, 
when to be seen, and when not, by the best of our judg¬ 
ment. For four days we continued in this situation 
without seeing any vessel; but on Saturday, 26th of 
May, at one P. M., to our great joy we espied a sail, 
which proved to be the brig Poacher, of Boston, captain 
James Dunn, from Alicant, who took us on board and 
•treated us with every attention and civility. 

As nothing was afterwards heard of the vessel, all that 
remained on the wreck, (thirty-one in number,) un¬ 
doubtedly perished. 


BURNING OF THE KENT. 

The Kent, captain Henry Cobb, a fine new ship of 
one thousand three hundred and fifty tons, bound to 
Bengal and China, left the Downs on the 19th of Febru¬ 
ary, with twenty officers, three hundred and forty-four 
soldiers, forty-three women, and sixty-six children, be¬ 
longing to the thirty-first regiment; with twenty private 
passengers, and a crew (including officers) of one hun¬ 
dred and forty-eight men, on board. 

On the night of Monday, the 28th of February, 1827, 
when the Kent was in latitude 47 degrees 30 minutes, 
longitude 10 degrees, a violent gale blew from the west, 
and gradually increased during the following morning. 
The rolling of the vessel became tremendous about mid¬ 
night, so that the best fastened articles of furniture in 
the principal cabins were dashed about with violence, 
and the main-chains were thrown at every lurch under 
water. 

It was a little before this period, that one of the offi¬ 
cers of the ship, with the well-meant intention of ascer¬ 
taining that all was fast below, descended with two of 
the sailors into the hold, where they carried with them, 
for safety, a light in the patent lantern ; and- seeing that 
the lamp burned dimly, the officer took the precaution to 
hand it up the orlop-deck to be trimmed. Having after- 



BURNING OF THE KENT. 


313 


wards discovered one of the spirit casks to be adrift, he 
sertt the sailors for some billets of wood to secure it; but 
the ship in their absence having made a heavy lurch, 
the officer unfortunately dropped the light; and letting 
go his h^ld of the cask in his eagerness to recover the 
lantern, it suddenly stove, and the spirits communicating 
with the lamp, the whole place was instantly in a blaze. 

It so happened that the author went into the cuddy 
to observe the state of the barometer, when he received 
from captain Spence, the captain of the day, the alarm¬ 
ing information that the ship was on fire in the after 
hold. 

As long as the devouring element appeared to be con¬ 
fined to the spot where the fire originated, and which 
we were assured was surrounded on all sides by water 
casks, we ventured to cherish hopes that it might be 
subdued ; but, no sooner was the light blue vapor that at 
first arose succeeded by volumes of thick dingy smoke, 
which speedily ascended through all the four hatchways, 
rolling over every part of the ship, than all farther con¬ 
cealment became impossible, and almost all hope of pre¬ 
serving the vessel was abandoned. “ The flames have 
reached the cable tier/ 7 was exclaimed by some indi¬ 
viduals, and the strong pitchy smell that pervaded the 
deck confirmed the truth of the exclamation. 

In these awful circumstances, captain Cobb, with an 
ability and decision of character that seemed to increase 
with the imminence of the danger, resorted to the only 
alternative now left him, of ordering the lower deck to 
be scuttled, the combing of the hatches to be cut, and 
the lower ports to be opened, for the free admission of 
the waves. 

These instructions were speedily executed by the unit¬ 
ed efforts of the troops and seamen : but not before some 
of the sick soldiers, one woman, and several children, 
unable to gain the upper deck, had perished. On de¬ 
scending to the gun-deck with colonel Fearon, captain 
Bray, and one or two other officers of the 31st regiment, 
to assist in opening the ports, I met, staggering towards 
the hatchway, in an exhausted and nearly senseless 


314 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


state, one of the mates, who informed us that he had 
just stumbled over the dead bodies of some individuals 
who must have died from suffocation, to which it was 
evident that he himself had almost fallen a victim. 
dense and oppressive was the smoke, that it was with 
the utmost difficulty we could remain long enough be¬ 
low to fulfil captain Cobb’s wishes; which were no 
sooner accomplished than the sea rushed in with extra¬ 
ordinary force, carrying away in its resistless progress 
to the hold, the largest chests, bulk-heads, &c. 

On the one hand stood death by fire, on the other, 
death by water: the dilemma was dreadful. Preferring 
always the more remote alternative, the unfortunate 
crew were at one moment attempting to check the fire 
by means of water; and when the water became the 
most threatening enemy, their efforts were turned to the 
exclusion of the waves, and the fire was permitted to 
rage with all its fury. 

The scene of horror that now presented itself, baffles 
all description. The upper deck was covered with be¬ 
tween six and seven hundred human beings, many of 
whom, from previous sea-sickness, were forced on the 
first alarm to flee from below in a state of absolute na¬ 
kedness, and were now running about in quest of hus¬ 
bands, children or parents. 

While some were standing in silent resignation, or in 
stupid insensibility to their impending fate, others were 
yielding themselves up to the most frantic despair. 
Some on their knees were earnestly imploring, with 
significant gesticulations and in noisy supplications, the 
mercy of Him, whose arm, they exclaimed, was at length 
outstretched to smite them; others were to be seen has¬ 
tily crossing themselves, and performing the various ex¬ 
ternal acts required by their peculiar persuasion, while 
a number of the older and more stout-hearted sailors 
suddenly took their seats directly over the magazine, 
hoping, as they stated, that by means of the explosion, 
which they every instant expected, a speedier termipa- 
tion might thereby be put to their sufferings. 

Captain Cobb, with great forethought, ordered the 


BURNING OF THE KENT. 


315 


deck to be scuttled forward, with a view to draw the 
fire in that direction, knowing that between it and the 
magazine were several tiers of water casks; while he 
hoped that the wet sails, &c., thrown into the after-hold, 
would prevent it from communicating with the spirit- 
room abaft. 

Several of the soldiers’ wives and children, who had 
fled for temporary shelter into the after-cabins on the 
upper deck, were engaged in praying and in reading the 
scriptures with the ladies, some of whom were enabled, 
with wonderful self-possession, to offer to others those 
spiritual consolations, which a firm and intelligent trust 
in the Redeemer of the world appeared at this awful 
hour to impart to their own breasts. 

All hope had departed ! the employment of the diffe¬ 
rent individuals indicated utter despair of rescue—one 
was removing a lock of hair from his writing desk to 
his bosom—others were awaiting their fate in stupor— 
some with manly fortitude—others bewailing it with 
loud and bitter lamentation—and part were occupied in 
prayer and mutual encouragement. 

It was at this appalling instant, when “all hope that 
we should be saved was taken away,” that it occurred 
to Mr. Thompson, the fourth mate, to send a man to the 
foretop, rather with the ardent wish than the expecta¬ 
tion, that some friendly sail might be discovered on the 
face of the waters. The sailor, on mounting, threw his 
eyes round the horizon for a moment—a moment of un¬ 
utterable suspense—and waving his hat, exclaimed, “ A 
sail on the lee-bow!” The joyful announcement was 
received with deep-felt thanksgiving, and with three 
cheers upon deck. Our flags of distress were instantly 
hoisted, and our minute guns fired : and we endeavored 
to bear down under our three topsails and foresail upon 
the stranger, which afterwards proved to be the Cam¬ 
bria, a small brig of two hundred tons burden, captain 
Cook, bound to Vera Cruz, having on board twenty or 
thirty Cornish miners, and other agents of the Anglo- 
Mexican company. 

While captain Cobb, colonel Fearon, and major Mac- 


31G 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


gregor of the 31st regiment, were consulting together, as 
the brig was approaching us, on the necessary prepa¬ 
rations for getting out the boats, &c., one of the officers 
asked major Macgregor in what order it was intended 
the officers should move off? to which the other replied, 
“Of course, the funeral order;” which injunction was 
instantly confirmed by colonel Fearon, who said, “ Most 
undoubtedly the juniors first—but see that any man is 
cut down who presumes to enter the boats before the 
means of escape are presented to the women and chil¬ 
dren.” 

Arrangements having been considerately made by 
captain Cobb for placing in the first boat, previous to 
letting it down, all the ladies, and as many of the sol¬ 
diers’ wives as it could safely contain, they hurriedly 
wrapt themselves up in whatever article of clothing 
could be most conveniently found; and I think about 
two, or half past two o’clock, a most mournful procession 
advanced from the after cabins to the starboard cud¬ 
dy-port, outside of which the cutter was suspended. 
Scarcely a word was heard—not a scream was uttered— 
even the infants ceased to cry, as if conscious of the un¬ 
spoken and unspeakable anguish that was at this in¬ 
stant rending the hearts of the parting parents—nor was 
the silence of voices in any way broken, except in 'one 
or two cases, when the ladies plaintively entreated to be 
left behind with their husbands. But on being assured 
that every moment’s delay might occasion the sacrifice 
of human life, they successively suffered themselves to 
be torn from the tender embrace, and with a fortitude 
which never fails to characterize and adorn their sex on 
occasions of overwhelming trial, were placed, without a 
murmur, in the boat, which was immediately lowered 
into a sea so tempestuous, as to leave us only “ to hope 
against hope” that it should live in it for a single moment. 
Twice the cry was heard from those on the chains that 
the boat was swamping. But He who enabled the apos- 
le Peter to walk on the face of the deep, and was gra¬ 
ciously attending to the silent but earnest aspirations of 
those on board, had decreed its safety. 




/ 



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Burning of the Ken!, East Iniiaman. Page 315. 







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































BURNING OF THE KENTi 3tt 

After one or two unsuccessful attempts to place the 
little frail bark fairly upon the surface of the water, the 
command was at length given to unhook ; the tackle at 
the stem was in consequence immediately cleared; but 
the ropes at the bow having got foul, the sailor there 
found it impossible to obey the order. In vain was the 
axe applied to the entangled tackle. The moment was 
inconceivabl)' critical; as the boat, which necessarily 
followed the 115 . .don of the ship, was gradually rising out 
of the water, and must, in another instant, have been 
hanging perpendicularly by the bow, and its helpless 
passengers launched into the deep, had not a most provi¬ 
dential wave suddenly struck and lifted up the stern, so 
as to enable the seaman to disengage the tackle; and 
the boat being dexterously cleared from the ship, was 
seen after a little while battling with the billows; now 
raised, in its progress to the brig, like a speck on their 
sumfnit, and then disappearing for several seconds, as 
if engulphed “ in the horrid vale” between them. 

Two or three soldiers, to relieve their wives of a part 
of their families, sprang into the water with their chil¬ 
dren, and perished in their endeavors to save them. 
One young lady, who had resolutely refused to quit her 
father, whose sense of duty kept him at his post, was 
near falling a sacrifice to her filial devotion, not having 
been picked up by those in the boats, until she had sunk 
five or six times. Another individual, who was reduced 
to the frightful alternative of losing his wife, or his chil¬ 
dren, hastily decided in favor of his duty to the former. 
His wife was accordingly saved, but his four children, 
alas ! were left to perish. A fine fellow, a soldier, who 
had neither wife nor child of his own, but who evinced 
the greatest solicitude for the safety of those of others, 
insisted on having three children lashed to him, with 
whom he plunged into the water; not being able to 
reach the boat, he was drawn again into the ship with 
his charge, but not before two of the children had ex¬ 
pired. One man fell down the hatchway into the flames, 
and another had his back so completely broken as to 
have been observed quite doubled falling overboard. 

2 r 


318 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


The numerous spectacles of individual loss and suffering 
were not confined to the entrance upon the perilous voy¬ 
age between the two ships. One man, who fell between 
the boat and brig, had his head literally crushed fine— 
and some others were lost in their attempts to ascend 
the sides of the Cambria. 

When the greater part of the men had been disposed 
of, the gradual removal of the officers commenced, and 
was marked by a discipline the most rigid, and an intre¬ 
pidity the most exemplary: none appearing to be influ¬ 
enced by a vain and ostentatious bravery, which in cases 
of extreme peril, affords rather a presumptive proof of 
secret timidity than of fortitude; nor any betraying un¬ 
manly or unsoldier-like impatience to quit the ship; but 
with the becoming deportment of men neither paralyzed 
by, nor profanely insensible to, the accumulating dan¬ 
gers that encompassed them, they progressively departed 
in the different boats with their soldiers;—they who 
happened to proceed first, leaving behind them an exam¬ 
ple of coolness that could not be unprofitable to those 
who followed. 

Every individual was desired to tie a rope round his 
waist. While the people were busily occupied in adopt¬ 
ing this recommendation, I was surprised, I had almost 
said amused, by the singular delicacy of one of the Irish 
recruits, who in searching for a rope in one of the cabins, 
called out to me that he could find none except the cor¬ 
dage belonging to an officer’s cot, and wished to know 
whether there would be any harm in his appropriating 
it to his own use. 

Again : As an agreeable proof too, of the subordina¬ 
tion and good feeling that governed the poor soldiers 
in the midst of their sufferings, I ought to state that to¬ 
ward the evening, when the melancholy group who 
were passively seated on the poop, exhausted by previous 
fatigue, anxiety and fasting, were beginning to experi¬ 
ence the pain of intolerable thirst, a box of oranges was 
accidentally discovered by some of the men, who with 
a degree of mingled consideration, respect, and affection, 
that could hardly have been expected at such a moment, 


BURNING OF THE RENT. 


319 


refused to partake of the grateful beverage, until they 
had afforded a share of it to their officers. 

1 he spanker-boom of so large a ship as the Kent, 
which projects, I should think, sixteen or eighteen feet 
over the stern, rests on ordinary occasions about nineteen 
or twenty feet above the water; but in the position ill 
which we were placed, from the great height of the sea, 
and consequent pitching of the ship, it was frequently 
lifted to a height of not less than thirty or forty feet from 
the surface. 

To reach the rope, therefore, that hung from its ex¬ 
tremity, was an operation that seemed to require the aid 
of as much dexterity of hand as steadiness of head. 
For it was not only the nervousness of creeping along 
the boom itself, or the extreme difficulty of afterwards 
seizing on and sliding down by the rope, that we had to 
dread, and that occasioned the loss of some valuable 
lives, by deterring the men from adopting this mode of 
escape: but as the boat, which one moment was proba¬ 
bly under the boom, might be carried the next, by the 
force of the waves, fifteen or twenty yards from it, the 
unhappy individual, whose best calculations were thus 
defeated, was generally left swinging for some time in 
mid-air, if he was not repeatedly plunged several feet ' 
under water, or dashed with dangerous violence against 
the sides of the returning boat—or, what not unfrequent- 
\y happened, was forced to let go his hold of the rope 
altogether. As there seemed, however, no alternative, 

1 did not hesitate, notwithstanding my comparative in¬ 
experience and awkwardness in such a situation, to 
throw my leg across the perilous stick ; and with a heart 
extremely grateful that such means of deliverance, dan¬ 
gerous as they appeared, were still extended to me ; and 
more grateful still that I had been enabled, in common 
with others, to discharge my honest duty to my sove¬ 
reign and to my fellow-soldiers ; I proceeded, after confi¬ 
dently committing my spirit, the great object of my soli¬ 
citude, into the keeping of Him who had formed and re¬ 
deemed it, to creep slowly forward, feeling at every step 
the increased difficulty of my situation. On getting 


320 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


nearly to the end of the boom, the young officer whom 
I followed and myself were met with a squall of wind 
and rain, so violent as to make us fain to embrace close¬ 
ly the slippery stick, without attempting for some mi¬ 
nutes to make any progress, and to excite our apprehen¬ 
sion that we must relinquish all hope of reaching the 
rope. But our fears were disappointed, and after resting 
for awhile at the boom-end, while my companion was 
descending to the boat, which he did not find until he 
had been plunged once or twice over head in the water, 
I prepared to follow ; and instead of lowering myself, as 
many had imprudently done, at the moment when the 
boat was inclining towards us—and consequently being 
unable to descend the whole distance before it again re¬ 
ceded—I calculated that while the boat was retiring,* I 
ought to commence my descent, which would probably 
be completed by the, time the returning wave brought it 
underneath; by which means I was, I believe, almost 
the only officer or soldier who reached the boat without 
being either severely bruised or immersed in the water. 
But my friend colonel Pearon had not been so fortunate; 
for after swimming for some time, and being repeatedly 
struck against the side of the boat, and at one time 
drawn completely under it, he was at last so utterly ex¬ 
hausted, that he must instantly have let go his hold of 
the rope and perished, had not one in the boat seized 
him by the hair of the head and dragged him into it, 
almost senseless and alarmingly bruised. 

Captain Cobb, in his immovable resolution to be the 
last, if possible, to quit his ship, and in his generous 
anxiety for the preservation of every life entrusted to his 
charge, refused to seek the boat, until he again endea¬ 
vored to urge onward the few still around him, who 
seemed struck dumb and powerless with dismay. But 
finding all his entreaties fruitless, and hearing the guns, 
whose tackle was burst asunder by the advancing 
flames, successively exploding in the hold, into which 
they had fallen—this gallant officer, after having nobly 
pursued, for the preservation of others, a course of exer¬ 
tion that has been rarely equalled either in its duration 


LOSS OF THE SHIP BOSTON. 


321 


or difficulty, at last felt it right to provide for his own 
safety, by laying hold on the topping-lift, or rope that 
connects the driver-boom with the mizzemtop, and there¬ 
by getting over the heads of the infatuated men who oc¬ 
cupied the boom, unable to go either backward or for¬ 
ward, and ultimately dropping himself into the water. 


LOSS OF THE SHIP BOSTON. 

An unusual degree of sensation was excited in Boston, 
on the first of June, by the melancholy tidings of the 
loss of the packet ship Boston. This strong and elegant 
ship—one of the finest packets that belonged to this 
country—was struck by lightning in the Gulf stream, 
six days out from Charleston, and burnt to the water’s 
edge. We present the details below, as furnished by 
captain Mackay. 

“On Tuesday, the 25th of May, lat. 39, 31, long. 63, 
46, commenced with fresh breeze and squally weather— 
at 2 P. M., heavy rain which continued until about sun¬ 
set—at 8 P. M., forked lightning in the south-west, and 
dark and heavy clouds rising from the westward—at 9, 
the wind hauled to the westward—at 10 P. M., a heavy 
cloud began to rise in the south-west—at half past 10, 
sharp lightning, clewed up the topgallant sails, and haul¬ 
ed the mainsail up—at 11, heavy thunder and sharp 
lightning; the second flash struck the ship, burst the 
main-royal from the gaskets and burnt it; knocked 
down the steward and Isaac Hopkins, a sailor, and filled 
the ship full of electric fluid. We examined the ship 
immediately, to ascertain if the masts were injured, or 
the lightning had passed through the deck; but the mast 
appeared uninjured, a bright complaisance resting on 
each royal-mast head. We single reefed the main-top 
sail, and were about to hand the mainsail, when we 
ascertained that the ship was on fire. We immediately 
cleared the main and after hatchways, to get at the fire, 
heaving the cotton overboard and cutting holes in the 



322 


REMARKABLE shipwrecks. 


deck, plying water in every direction—but all in vain ; 
the cotton in the main-hold was on fire, fore and aft, on 
both sides, burning like tinder. Our only alternative 
was to clear away the boats and get them out, part of 
the crew and passengers at work keeping the fire down 
as much as possible by drawing and heaving water, the 
scuppers being stopped up; we stove water casks over 
holes cut in the deck and in the main-hatchway, start¬ 
ing the water, but all to no good purpose, for before we 
could get the long-boat over the ship’s side, the fire had 
burst through the deck and out the larboard side of the 
ship. The flames raged with such violence and con¬ 
sumed the vessel so quick, that nothing could be saved 
from the wreck. We got about forty gallons of water, 
and provisions sufficient, on a short allowance, to keep 
the passengers and crew alive for three weeks—almost 
every thing else was burnt up in the ship, even the 
money, watches, and clothes—all destroyed. At 3, A. M., 
the main and mizzen-masts were burnt off below deck, 
and the masts fell into thfe water ; at half past 3, the pas¬ 
sengers and crew were all in the boats; the flames had 
then reached the forecastle, and the ship was one com¬ 
plete flame of fire, fore and aft. The passengers had 
exerted themselves to the utmost to assist us. The offi¬ 
cers had with unwearied exertion, coolness and persever¬ 
ing activity done all that men could do. The ship’s 
crew worked like horses and behaved like men; but 
all would not do. About three hours time had changed 
one of the best ships that ever swam to a complete vol¬ 
cano, and cast twenty-three persons adrift on the open 
ocean. 

“ The cabin passengers were admiral Sir Isaac Coffin 
and servant, Dr. William Boag, and his sister Miss An- 
sella Boag, Mr. Neil McNeil, and Mr. Samuel S. Osgood. 
It was then raining, and every person was drenched 
through with water; in this situation the constitution 
of Miss Boag, the only lady-passenger, soon gave way. 
This amiable young lady’s firmness of conduct at the 
first alarm of fire, and during the whole scene, is worthy 
of the highest praise. To the divine will of her God 


LOSS OF THE WHALE SHIP ESSEX. 


323 


she submitted without a murmur, and at 11 o’clock on 
Wednesday, she died in the arms of her brother, in the 
boat, thanking him in the most affectionate manner for 
his kindness, giving her blessing to us all. On the fol¬ 
lowing day, she was buried with the church service, our 
situation not admitting of the corpse being kept longer 
in the boat. We remained in the boats near the fire of 
the wreck two days, and at three o’clock P. M. on 
Thursday, weire taken on board the brig Idas, of Liver¬ 
pool, N. S. from Demarara, bound to Halifax, captain 
Joseph Barnaby, who with his officers and crew treated 
us with every kindness and attention. We remained 
on board the brig two days, when, Sunday morning, 
May 30th, falling in with the brig Camilla, captain Ro¬ 
bert B. Edes, he was good enough to offer us a passage 
to Boston, and received us on board his vessel.” 

Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, after landing from the brig 
Camilla, authorized his agent to present captain Mackay 
with a check for five hundred dollars; and subsequently 
sent him an elegant gold watch, to replace-one which he 
had lost by the destruction of the ship. 


LOSS OF THE WHALE SHIP ESSEX. 

This vessel sailed from Nantucket on a whaling voy¬ 
age, commanded by captain Pollard. On the 13th of 
November, 1820, they were among the whales, and the 
three boats were lowered down.. They succeeded in 
capturing a young whale, but the mate’s boat got stove, 
and returned to the ship to be repaired. Shortly after, a 
whale of the largest class, probably the dam of the one 
they had just taken, struck the ship, knocked part of the 
false keel off, just abreast of the main channels. 

The animal then remained for some time alongside, 
endeavoring to clasp the ship within her jaws, but 
could not accomplish it. She then turned, went round 
the stern, and came up on the other side; and went 
away ahead about a quarter of a mile. Then suddenly 



324 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


turning, she came at the ship with tremendous velocity, 
head on. The vessel was going at the rate of five knots, 
but such was the force with which she struck the ship, 
which was under the cat-head, that the vessel had stern¬ 
way, at the rate of three or four knots. The conse¬ 
quence was, that the sea rushed into the cabin windows, 
every man on deck was knocked down, and, worse than 
all, the bows were completely stove in. In a few mi¬ 
nutes, the vessel filled and went on her beam ends. 

At this unhappy juncture, the captain and second 
mate were both fast to a whale; but on beholding the 
awful catastrophe that had taken place, immediately cut 
from the fish and made for the ship. As soon as the 
captain got on board, he gave orders for cutting away 
the masts, which was accordingly done, and the vessel 
righted;—the upper deck was then scuttled, and some 
water and bread were procured for the two boats, in 
which they were compelled to remain, as all thoughts of 
saving the ship were given up. In expectation of falling 
in with some vessel, they remained by the wreck, mak¬ 
ing sails, &c., but were finally compelled to abandon it, 
and stood away to the southward, in hopes of getting 
the variable winds, and experiencing fine weather; but 
the wind being constantly from the east and south-east, 
they made much lee-way and were prevented from 
keeping to the southward. They continued beating 
about in this way for thirty days, when they made an 
island, which they took for Dueie’s island, at which 
place the boats remained one week; but the island 
affording hardly any nourishment, and in fact, exhibit¬ 
ing nothing but sterility, they resolved on venturing 
for the coast; leaving behind them three men who pre¬ 
ferred remaining there, rather than to venture across the 
ocean in an open boat. 

After a series of disasters, a part of the crew finally 
reached Valparaiso. Captain Downes, of the U. S. fri - 
gate Macedonian, on becoming acquainted with the par¬ 
ticulars, resolved to rescue the three unfortunate men. 
who were left behind on the island. Accordingly he 
fitted out a schooner, at an expense of a thousand dollars, 


LOSS OF THE WHALE SHIF ESSEX. 


325 


and sent her in search for them. She was out, however, 
but one month, and returned dismasted. The ship Sur¬ 
rey, captain Raine, lying at Valparaiso, was on the eve 
of sailing for New Holland, and as Ducie’s island was 
not far from her track, captain Downes offered her com¬ 
mander three hundred dollars, to call there and take off 
the men. 

On Thursday, the 5th of April, captain Raine, consi¬ 
dering himself within a short distance of Ducie’s island, 
which is laid down in Norie’s epitome to be in lat. 24 
degrees 40 minutes S. and long. 124 deg. 17 minutes W., 
kept a good look out. About 2, P. M., land was per¬ 
ceived, which turned out to be an island in lat. 24 deg. 
26 minutes. As the vessel neared the land, they dis¬ 
charged a gun, and shortly after, the three poor men 
were seen to issue from the woods. The boats were 
piesently lowered, captain Raine taking one himself. 
On approaching the shore, it was found not only danger¬ 
ous, but utterly impracticable to land ; of which circum¬ 
stance they were informed, in weak and tremulous 
voices, by the almost starved and nearly worn out crea¬ 
tures themselves, who could scarcely, from the misera¬ 
ble plight they were in, articulate a syllable. One poor 
fellow summoned up courage enough to plunge into the 
waves, and with great difficulty reached the boat: he 
said, one of the others only could swim. 

After warily backing the boat as near the rocks as 
possible, amidst a heavy surf, the other two men suc¬ 
ceeded in getting on board, much bruised and lacerated 
by the repeated falls; which object was no sooner effect¬ 
ed, when each devoutly expressed his gratitude to that 
benign Being who had so wonderfully preserved them 
from sharing in the destruction to which most of their 
unhappy shipmates had fallen victims. They had been 
on the island four months, living on wild berries, resem¬ 
bling a cherry, sometimes killing a sea-gull by throwing 
stones, and no fresh water but when it rained, which 
was very seldom. On the island they discovered the 
name of the ship Elisabeth, of London, carved on a tree, 
and a cave, with eight human skeletons, lying together. 

28 


LOSS OF THE ISABELLA, OFF HASTINGS, 
ENGLAND. 


The details below were furnished by one of the pas¬ 
sengers, in a letter to a friend, dated 

Eastbourne, March 15, 1S33. 

This wreck is still visible ; she was a fine ship of 340 
tons, and offers an awful evidence of the power of nature 
over the noblest works of art. My heart still sickens 
with dismay at the recollection of the dreadful trials I 
have passed through. I have not before had health and 
strength enough to give you an outline of the particu¬ 
lars, and, even now, I tremble as they pass in review be¬ 
fore me. 

All our valuable furniture, plate, books, manuscripts, 
outfit and necessaries had been put on board the Isabel¬ 
la in the docks, when she dropped down to Gravesend, 
where I joined her on the evening of Saturday the 16th 
of February, with my wife and three children, a girl 
of eighteen months, and two boys of four and six years. 
We were opposed by contrary winds, and put our pilot 
on shore on Monday evening. On Tuesday, the wind 
freshened into a gale; and the dreadful enervating sick¬ 
ness usually attending these scenes, dispossessed my 
wife and myself of all energy and strength. The wind 
was now directly against us, and every hour increasing 
its fearful power; but our captain, full of intrepidity 
and confidence, determined to proceed, although he left 
behind a fleet of perhaps an hundred sail. As night 
closed, the tempest raged yet more fearfully. Our gal¬ 
lant ship was but as a feather on the wave’s surface, 
and all was fearfully dark as any night in the black 
catalogue of tempests; the wind right ahead; there was 
equal peril now in advancing or receding; the captain, 
however, gave his orders with as much precision as if he 
were exhibiting in a state pageant. The loud voice of 


LOSS OF THE ISABELLA. 


327 


the speaking-trumpet was the only sound that could be 
heard amid the wild rqar of contending elements. Be¬ 
tween three and four o’clock, our captain entered the 
cabin : be spoke little. I saw the distressed workings of 
his mind, and one or two questions constituted all the 
interruptions I offered. He took brandy and water, threw 
off his saturated dress, and having sat a little in dry 
clothes, retired. 

From this time, the ship seemed to me to labor and 
strain more than before, and the hurricane to drive and 
lay down the ship lower on her side; but as the captain 
was taking rest, I had fancied more security, and had 
lain myself on the floor of the cabin in the hope of get¬ 
ting also some repose. I had been lying down l suppose 
thirty minutes, when I thought I heard or felt the keel of 
the ship drag. I had been, to this time, sick to death. I 
was exhausted and listless, almost lifeless, when the 
dreadful suspicion and announcement of “ shore,” alarm¬ 
ed me; I was ill no more. I jumped up, and was rush¬ 
ing through the cabin to mention my fears, when the ship 
beat twice on a rock, and I heard the cry of “ The ship 
has struck !” I called the captain. The dreadful shock 
and loud cries of alarm, combined to summon all on deck, 
excepting the ladies and the poor children, who had been 
roused, at last, by the general crash, and these I would 
not allow to leave their berths lest they might interrupt 
the exertions making above. Here, indeed, was redou¬ 
bled energy. The rudder was unshipped when we first 
struck, and was abandoned. Now was the loud cry for 
the speaking-trumpet—now for the axes, which for a 
time could not be found. 1 asked if there were no guns 
to fire signals of distress? No guns. No rockets to let 
off to acquaint the coast-guard with our condition ? No 
rockets. It was manifest our captain had been, as Napo¬ 
leon said of Massena, a spoiled child of fortune ! Always 
happy and successful in his adventures, his voyages de¬ 
servedly fortunate, had superseded all contemplation of 
disaster. Every effort was now made, by manoeuvring 
the sails, to force the ship once more to sea. and made in 

vain—we were constrained to wait until daylight ena- 

• 


328 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


bled us to appreciate our real situation, and procure for 
us, from the shore, the necessary assistance. 

It is difficult to judge of distance on water, hut 1 believe 
we lay nearly half a mile from the beach. Every suc¬ 
ceeding wave raised the ship several feet, and subsiding, 
we heat with tremendous violence on the rock. An im¬ 
mense quantity of bricks had been shipped in lieu of bal¬ 
last; between these and the rock, the ship’s bottom migljt 
represent the metal works between the anvil and the 
hammer, and strange it would have been had it not se¬ 
verely suffered. Every wave was a fearful mountain, 
while the hurricane momentarily threatened to shiver 
us into atoms. Such a storm has not been felt on these 
shores during the last fifty years. As the ungoverned 
state of the rudder was now breaking up all within its 
range, the binnacles were removed below for security, 
and the rudder lashed to the boom; but the cords were 
soon rent asunder like threads. After lying in this situa¬ 
tion nearly two hours, sometimes fancying we saw boats 
approaching to our assistance, sometimes that we saw 
lights as signals, the dawn at length assured us we were 
descried from the shore, where we saw a general activity 
corresponding to the peril of our unhappy condition. Not 
a boat could, however, venture to put out through the 
frightful surf, and I own I felt little hopes of relief while 
the elements continued their frightful ravages. The 
shore was now lined with spectators, hut their sympathy 
could avail us nothing. While this was our condition 
without, within the ship all was devastation. At each 
new concussion something was strained and gave way. 
Bedsteads, lamps, tables and trunks were hurled from 
side to side with frightful noise, which made the females 
believe, in spite of our assurances, the ship was breaking 
up. But now beamed suddenly forth in our extremity, 
the dawn of our deliverance. We had watched a team 
laboring along the beach conveying to windward a boat. 
It was launched, and, in the same moment, manned. It 
was the God-like life-boat, equipped with the most intre¬ 
pid crew that ever deserved their country’s gratitude. In 
half an hour of unequalled struggles they were alongside, 
and boarded us; and now, indeed, I saw countenances 


LOSS OF THE ISABELLA. 


329 


where tho_ glad gleam of joy endeavored to penetrate 
through a mass of suffering and despair; but we had 
scarcely interchanged congratulations, when I was told 
the boat had left the ship. I could not believe it. I ran 
aloft and found it true. I felt I had now a duty to per¬ 
form to my family, and I asked the captain, if the boat 
were dismissed, what could be his plan ? I represented 
that as our rudder was useless, he could have no com¬ 
mand of the ship if she floated with the coming flood; 
and if her bottom was pierced, of which there could be 
no doubt, we must expect that if she dipped into deep 
water, she would fill -and go down, and ail would inevi¬ 
tably perish—that it would be impossible, in her present 
crippled state, to work her into any port, and I submit¬ 
ted, therefore, that our safety should be consulted above 
all things. Our captain firmly answered, our safety was 
his principal daty and first care ; that I might rely on his 
word, that he would not hazard our lives; and that if the 
ship was not in a condition to leave the shore, he would 
not attempt it. I own I returned to my family with a 
heavy heart to announce the fearful experiment. 

The flood-tide was rolling in, and the trumpet of our 
vigilant captain was again in full activity. After many 
mighty workings, an awful blast drove us over the reef, 
and hurried us to sea. Hope beamed again, but it was 
found that the ship had made five feet of water in ten 
minutes. The signal of distress was hoisted, and every 
possible effort made to put the ship’s head to the shore, 
but without the assistance of her rudder, she was wholly 
unmanageable, and very soon became water-logged. I 
now caught the captain’s eye; he motioned me, and gave 
the dreadful intelligence that the ship was sinking, and 
1 must prepare my wife and children for any event! I 
asked how long it might be before she would go down? 
He said, “ Some time yet.” Without making any com¬ 
munication, I conveyed my family on deck, and watched 
the progress of the ship visibly made in sinking. Efforts 
were again made to put the ship about, but they were 
fruitless. 

Happily for our safety, the life-boat, better acquainted 
28 * 


330 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


with the distressing features of disaster, had kept hover¬ 
ing around. I had grieved at its dismissal, but now sud¬ 
denly heard it hailing the captain to let go the remaining 
anchor. After dragging a little, it held on, and threw 
her stern round: but the ship was water-logged, and 
made little progress. She was now so low that every 
wave rolled in one side and discharged itself on the other. 
We had thrown out a line to the boat, but it had quickly 
snapped, and we threw others, in the hope of keeping 
them at a short distance. As it appeared we must in a 
few seconds go down, I was preparing cords for the safe¬ 
ty of my family, when a squall, a hundred times more 
frightful than any that had yet assailed us, gave hopes, 
and the crew cried out, “ Now—now the masts must go.” 
But still they stood, to our great danger and annoyance. 
The ship had, however, felt the impulse received from 
the last blast, and been impelled forward;—and now a 
shock succeeded which gave the glad, auspicious tidings 
of shore. The men clasped their hands, and looked to¬ 
wards Heaven with emotions of gratitude. The last 
nearly overwhelming gale had lifted us forward, and 
proved our deliverance; and now the exertions of the 
crew of the boat were increased tenfold, and they were 
quickly under our stern. Our intrepid captain, lashing 
himself for security, jumped over the ship’s side, and, 
though overwhelmed by every wave, called aloud for the 
children first. I had taken them below, lest the fall of 
the masts should injure them. I flew down, and in an 
instant my eldest son was in the arms of the captain.— 
The life-boat was now riding on the brink of the wave, 
and now was lost in the abyss; but as she was descend¬ 
ing my son was caught as the captain loosed his arm, by 
a dozen eager arms raised for his safety. The second 
boy met with more facility, and the infant was thrown 
and caught, when the whole crew, with generous sym¬ 
pathy, cried out, “ Now the mother.” The mother was 
soon with her children, and seemed to us protected by 
these our worldly saviors from destruction. The other 
females were then handed down, with a youth of fourteen, 
and I next followed, in agonizing anxiety to share with 


LOSS OF THE STEAM-BOAT ROTHSAY CASTLE. 331 

those I felt dearer to me than life, the yet remaining 
perils. 

Lifted sometimes mountains high, sometimes hidden 
from all view in the depths into which we descended, we 
at last reached the shore. The people upon the beach 
rushed into the surf to receive us, and braved its perils 
for our security. The boat was soon lighted, and a cart 
stood ready to convey us to an adjoining house, where dry 
clothing was soon exchanged for garments long saturated 
with brine. The captain and crew were left on the 
wreck with one passenger, and two hours elapsed before 
the boat could succeed in extricating these from the dan¬ 
gers assailing them. For a considerable period, the sea 
had been covered with floating packages, carried by the 
storm and tide many miles along the beach, but at night¬ 
fall, began the active work of plunder, and that which 
had resisted other violence was soon conveyed away from 
observation. 



LOSS OF THE ROTHSAY CASTLE STEAMER. 

The Rothsay Castle was a steam-packet which for¬ 
merly traded on the Clyde. She belonged to the line of 
steamers which sailed from Liverpool to Beaumaris and 
Bangor, and was furnished with one engine only. She 
was commanded by Lieut. Atkinson. At ten o’clock, on 
the — of August, 1831, the vessel was appointed to sail 
from the usual place, George’s Pierhead, but a casual 





332 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


delay took place in starting, and it was eleven o’clock 
before she had got every thing in readiness. Whilst 
taking passengers on board, a carriage arrived at the 
Pierhead for embarkation. It belonged to M. W. Foster, 
Esq. of Regent’s Park, London, who, with his wife and 
servant, were conveyed in it to the packet, and took their 
passage at the same time. They were all subsequently 
drowned, a little dog which accompanied them being the 
only survivor of this unfortunate group. When the 
steamer left the Pierhead, her deck was thronged with 
passengers. The captain, crew, musicians, &c. amount¬ 
ed to fifteen, in addition to whom, it was supposed by per¬ 
sons who saw the vessel sail, that one hundred and ten 
or one hundred and twenty souls wefe on board. The 
majority of the passengers consisted of holiday and fa¬ 
mily parties, chiefly from country places; and in one of 
these companies, who came on a journey of pleasure from 
Bury, the hand of death committed a merciless devasta¬ 
tion. It consisted of twenty-six persons: in the morning, 
joyous with health and hilarity, they set out upon the 
waves, and when the shades of that evening approached, 
every soul but two saw his last of suns go down. 

' The weather was not particularly boisterous at the 
time she sailed. A severe storm, however, had raged in 
the morning, and must have agitated the water on the 
Banks more than usual. The wind, too, blew strongly 
from the north-west, and the vessel had to contend with 
the tide, which began to flow soon after she passed the 
rock. When the steamer arrived off the floating-light, 
which is stationed about fifteen miks from Liverpool, 
the roughness of the sea alarmed many of the passengers. 
One of the survivors stated, that Mr. Tarry, of Bury, 
Vho, with his family, consisting of himself, his wife, their 
five children and servant, was on board, being, in com¬ 
mon with others, greatly alarmed for his own safety and 
the safety of those dear to him, went down to the cabin, 
where the captain was at dinner, and requested him to 
put back. His reply was, “ I think there is a great deal 
of fear on board, and very little danger. If we were to 
turnback with passengers, it would never do—we should 


LOSS OF THE STEAM-BOAT ROTHSAY CASTLE. 333 

have no profit.” To another gentleman who urged him 
to put back, he is reported to have said very angrily, 
“I’m not one of those that turn back.” He remained 
in the cabin two whole hours, and peremptorily refused 
to comply with the repeated requests made to him by 
the more timid of his passengers, to return to Liverpool; 
observing that if they knew him, they would not make 
the request. Before dinner, his behavior had been unex¬ 
ceptionable ; but after he had dined, a very striking dif¬ 
ference was observed in his conduct. He became vio¬ 
lent in his manner, and abusive in his language to the 
men. When anxiously questioned by the passengers, as 
to the progress the vessel was making, and the time at 
which she was likely to reach her destination, he return¬ 
ed trifling, and frequently very contradictory answers. 
During the early part of the voyage, he had spoken con¬ 
fidently of being able to reach Beaumaris by seven o’¬ 
clock; but the evening wore away, night came on, and 
the vessel was still a considerable distance from the ter¬ 
mination of her voyage. It was near twelve o’clock, 
when they arrived at the mouth of the Menai strait, 
which is about five miles from Beaumaris. The tide, 
which had been running out of the strait, and which had, 
consequently, for sometime previous retarded the steam¬ 
er’s progress towards her destination, was just on the 
turn. The vessel, according to the statement of two of 
the seamen and one of the firemen saved, had got round 
the buoy on the north end of the Dutchman’s bank, and 
had proceeded up the river as far as the tower on Puffin 
island; when suddenly the steam got so low that the 
engine would not keep her on her proper course. When 
asked why there was not steam on, the fireman said, 
that a deal of water had been finding its way into the 
vessel all day, and that sometime before she got into the 
strait, the bilge-pumps were choked. The water in the 
hold then overflowed the coals; so that, in renewing the 
fires, a deal of water went in with the coals, and made it 
impossible to keep the steam up. It was the duty of the 
fireman to give notice of this occurrence; but he seems 
not to have mentioned it to the captain. The vessel, 


334 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


which had evidently come fair into the channel, though 
there was no light on the coast to guide her, now drift¬ 
ed with the ebb-tide and north-west wind, towards the 
Dutchman’s bank, on the north point of which she 
struck, her bows sticking fast in the sand. Lieut. Atkin¬ 
son immediately ordered the man at the helm to put the 
helm a-starboard. The man refused to do so; but put 
it to port. The mate perceiving this, ran aft, took the 
helm from the man, and put it to starboard again. In 
the meantime, the captain and some of the passengers 
got the jib up. No doubt he did this intending to wear 
her round and bring her head to the northward ; but, in 
the opinion of nautical men, it could not make the least 
difference which way her head was turned, as she was 
on a lee shore, and there was no steam to work her off. 
The captain also ordered the passengers first to run aft, 
in the hope, by removing the pressure from the vessel’s 
stem, to make her float: this failing to produce the de¬ 
sired effect, he then ordered them to run forward. All 
the exertions of the captain, the crew and passengers 
united, were unavailing. The ill-fated vessel stuck still 
faster in the sands, and all gave themselves up for lost. 
The terror of the passengers became excessive. Several 
of them urged the captain to hoist lights, and make 
other signals of distress ; but he positively refused to do 
so, assuring the passengers that there was no danger, 
and telling them several times, that the packet was afloat 
and doing well, and on her way; when the passengers 
knew perfectly well that she was sticking fast in the 
sand, and her cabins rapidly filling with water. Doubt¬ 
less the unfortunate man was perfectly aware of the im¬ 
minence of the danger; but we may charitably suppose 
that he held such language for the purpose of preventing 
alarm which might be fatal. The alarm-bell was now 
rung with so much violence that the clapper broke, and 
some of the passengers continued to strike it for some 
time with a stone. The bell was heard, it is said, at 
Beaumaris, but, as there was no light hoisted on the 
mast of the steamer, (a fatal neglect!) those who heard 
the signal were of course, ignorant whence it proceeded. 


LOSS OF THE STEAM-BOAT ROTHSAY CASTLE. 335 

The weather, at this awful moment, was boisterous, but 
perfectly clear. The moon, though slightly overcast, 
threw considerable light on the surrounding objects. But 
a strong breeze blew from the north-west, the tide began 
to set in with great strength, and a heavy sea beat over 
the bank on which the steam-packet was now firmly and 
immovably fixed. 

We cannot describe the scene which followed. Cer¬ 
tain death seemed now to present itself to all on board, 
and the most affecting scenes were exhibited. The fe¬ 
males, in particular, uttered the most piercing shrieks; 
some locked themselves in each other’s arms, while 
others, losing all self-command, tore off their caps and 
bonnets, in the wildness of despair. A Liverpool pilot, 
who happened to be in the packet, now raised his voice 
and exclaimed, “ It is all over—we are all lost!” At 
these words there was a universal despairing shriek.— 
The women and children collected in a knot together, 
and kept embracing each other, keeping up, all the time, 
the most dismal lamentations. When tired with crying, 
they lay against each other, with their heads reclined, 
like inanimate bodies. The steward of the vessel and 
his wife, who was on board, lashed themselves to the 
mast, determined to spend their last moments in each 
other’s arms. Several husbands and wives also met 
their fate locked in each other’s arms; whilst parents 
clung to their beloved children,—several mothers, it is 
said, having perished with their dear little ones firmly 
clasped in their arms. A party of the passengers, about 
fifteen or twenty, lowered the boat and crowded into it. 
It was impossible for any open boat to live in such a sea, 
even though not overloaded, and she immediately 
swamped and went to the bottom, with all who had 
made this last hopeless effort for self-preservation. 

For some time the vessel, though now irrecoverably 
lost, continued to resist the action of the waves, and the 
despairing souls on board still struggled with their doom. 
But hope had forever fled; the packet was beaten and 
tossed about by the tumultuous waters with a violence 
which threatened to dash her into fragments at every 


336 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


shock, and the sea now made a continual breach over 
her. The decks were repeatedly swept by the boiling 
ocean, and each billow snatched its victims to a watery 
grave. The unfortunate captain and his mate were 
among the first that perished. About thirty or forty 
passengers were standing upon the poop clinging to each 
other in hopeless agony, and occasionally uttering the 
most piteous ejaculations. Whilst trembling thus upon 
the brink of destruction, and expecting every moment to 
share the fate which had already overtaken so many of 
their companions in misery, the poop was discovered to 
give way ; another wave rolled on with impetuous fury, 
and the hinder part of the luckless vessel, with all who 
sought safety in its frail support, was burst away from 
its shattered counterpart, and about forty wretched be¬ 
ings hurried through the foaming flood into an etepnal 
world. 

1 Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell, 

Then shrieked the timid and stood still the brave. ’ 

Those who retained any degree of sensibility endea¬ 
vored to catch at whatever was floating within their reach, 
with the vain hope of prolonging their lives, though it 
was certain that life could only lengthen their sufferings. 
Many grasped, with frantic despair, at the slightest ob¬ 
ject they could find, but were either too weak to retain 
their hold, or were forced to relinquish their grasp by the 
raging of the surge. The rudder was seized by eight of 
the sinking creatures at the same time, and some of them 
were ultimately preserved. The number of those who 
clung to the portion of the wreck which remained upon 
the bank, gradually grew thinner and thinner, as they 
sunk under their fatigues, or were hurled into the deep 
by the remorseless waves. At length, about an hour 
and a half from the time when she struck, the remnant 
of the Rothsay Castle disappeared from the bosom of the 
ocean, and the remainder of her passengers and crew 
were precipitated into the foaming abyss. 


LOSS OF THE BRIG SALLY. 

August 8 , 1767, while in latitude 25, having a strong 
gale of wind, the brig Sally was laid-to under her main¬ 
stay-sail till ten o’clock the next morning, when she was 
hove on her beam-ends, and in less than five minutes turn¬ 
ed keel upwards, so that they had only time to cut away 
the lanyards of her main-mast. There were on board, 
Anthony Tabry, master; Humphrey Mars, mate; Jo¬ 
seph Sherver, Samuel Bess, John Burna, mariners, who 
were drowned; six other mariners, viz. Peter Toy, Da¬ 
niel Cultan, John Davis, Alexander Landerry, Peter 
Mayes, and William Hammon, having got hold of the 
top-mast, which floated alongside, tied it to the stern, and 
supported themselves by it, till about five o’clock in the 
evening, when the cabin boy swam to the hull and threw 
them a rope, by which they got on the bottom of the ves¬ 
sel, where they were still in a dismal plight; the first 
want that invaded them was drink, this drove away all 
thought of meat. The main-mast, with all the rigging, 
the lanyards having been cut away, came up alongside, 
from which they got the wreath, (a square hoop which 
binds the head of the mast,) with which, and a bolt of 
a foot long, they went to work on her bottom; in the 
mean time keeping their mouths moist, as well as they 
could, by chewing the stuff of her bottom, she not hav¬ 
ing any barnacles, being lately cleaned, and some lead 
which was on her bow, and drinking their own water; 
in four days time Peter Toy died, raving for drink, 
whose body they threw off the vessel the next day. In 
this manner did they work for six days, without meat, 
drink, or sleep, nor daring to lie down for fear of falling 
off the vessel; the sixth day they got a hole in the brig, 
where they found a barrel of bottled beer; this they 
drank very greedily ; they soon got another parcel, when 
one of them put the others on an allowance. The 
eleventh day of their being on the wreck, they got a bar- 
29 


338 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS* 


rel of pork, which they were obliged to eat raw. As to 
sleep, as soon as they got a hole through the vessel’s 
bottom, they pulled out a great number of staves and 
shingles, and made a platform in the same place, but so 
small was it, that when they wanted to turn, they were 
obliged to wait till the sea hoisted the vessel, and when 
she fell again with the sea, they were almost froze to 
death. Thus did these poor miserable fellows live for 
thirteen or fourteen days; after they got the pork, they 
made a kind of net with a hoop, some shingles, and 
ropes, which they got from the mast; this they let into 
the sea, with some pork, and caught a few small fish, 
which, with two or three mice they caught on board the 
brig, afforded them several most delicious repasts, raw 
as they were; this lasted but a few days, as they could 
not catch any more; when they were obliged to return 
to their pork, which was become quite putrid by the 
salt water getting to it. To their great joy, on the 1st 
of September, in latitude 26, 15, longitude 70, 10, at 
four o’clock in the afternoon, they could just perceive a 
vessel to windward of them, which seemed to stand some 
time for them, but soon put about and stood from them; 
it was then they despaired, as that morning they had 
drank the last bottle of their beer, and that one was all 
they had; for that day they worked hard to get at the 
casks of water in the hold, but they were so far from 
them, that they could not have got at them in a long 
time. About sun half an hour high, the vessel stood for 
them, and came so near that they perceived a piece of 
canvass, that they on the wreck supported on a piece of 
board, bore down for it, and about seven or eight o’clock 
took them on board; she was the brig Norwich, captain 
Robert Noyes. Thus were they relieved when death 
stared them in the face, by a captain who used them 
very kindly, gave them food and clothes, as their own 
were rotted off their backs, washed their sores, and gave 
them plasters, as they were almost raw from head to 
foot with the heat of the sun and salt water, which, in 
many places had eaten holes in their flesh. 


SUFFERINGS OF EPHRAIM HOW. 


On the 25th of August, 1676, Mr. Ephraim How, of 
New-Haven, in New-England, with his two eldest sons; 
one Mr. Augur; Caleb Jones, son to Mr. William Jones, 
one of the magistrates of New-Haven; and a boy; six 
persons in all, set sail from New-Haven for Boston, in 
a small ketch, of about seventeen tons. 

Having despatched his business there, he sailed for 
New-Haven on the 10th of September, but was forced 
back to Boston by contrary winds. Here Mr. How was 
seized with a violent flux, which continued nearly a 
month; many being at that time sick, and some dying 
of the same. 

Being in some degree restored to health, he again sail¬ 
ed from Boston, October 10. They went with a fair 
wind as far as cape Cod ; but on a sudden, the weather 
became very tempestuous, so that they could not pass 
the cape, but were driven off to sea, where they were 
in great danger, experiencing terrible storms, with out¬ 
rageous wind and seas. 

His eldest son fell sick and died about the 21st; soon 
after, his other son was taken ill and died also. This 
was a bitter cup to the poor father, for these youths were 
the only assistants in working the vessel. Soon after 
Caleb Jones died, so that half the company were now 
no more. 

Mr. How continued in a very sickly and weak state, 
yet was necessitated to stand at the helm twenty-four 
and thirty-six hours together. During this time, the sea 
was so boisterous as frequently to break over the vessel, so 
that if he had not been lashed fast he must have been 
washed overboard. In this extremity, he was at a loss 
in his own thoughts, whether he should persist in endea¬ 
voring to make for the New-England shore, or bear 
away for the southern islands. Upon his proposing the 
question to Mr. Augur, they determined, according to 
the custom of some in those times, to decide this difficult 


340 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


case by casting lots. They did so, and it fell upon New- 
England. 

Nearly about the 7th of November, they lost their rud¬ 
der, so that now their only dependence was upon Provi¬ 
dence. In this deplorable state they drove up and down 
for a fortnight longer. During the last six weeks, the 
poor infirm Mr. How was hardly ever dry, nor had he 
the benefit of warm food above thrice or thereabouts! 

At length, about the 21st of November, early in the 
morning the vessel was driven on the tailings of a ledge 
of rocks, where the sea broke violently. Looking out, 
they saw a dismal, rocky island to the leeward, upon 
which, if Providence had not by the breakers given them 
timely warning, they had been dashed to pieces. They 
immediately let go an anchor, and got out the boat, and 
the sea became calm. The boat proving leaky, and they 
being in great terror, they took but little out of the ketch, 
but got on shore as they could. 

Here they could discover neither man nor beast. It 
was a small, rocky, desolate island, near cape Sable, the 
southern extremity of Nova Scotia. They now appeared 
to be in great danger of being starved to death, but the 
storm returning, beat so violently upon the vessel, as it 
still lay at anchor, that it was stove to pieces, and seve¬ 
ral things floated to the shore. 

The following articles were all they had towards their 
future support:—a cask of gunpowder, which received 
no damage from the water; a barrel of wine ; half a bar¬ 
rel of molasses; several useful articles towards building 
a tent: all the above drifted from the wreck : besides 
which they had fire-arms and shot; a pot for boiling; 
and most probably other things not mentioned in the 
narrative. 

Their tent was soon erected, for the cold was now get¬ 
ting severe, but new and great distresses attended them, 
for though they had arms and ammunition, there were 
seldom any fowls to be seen, except crows, ravens, and 
seagulls. These were so few, that they could seldom 
shoot more than one at a time. Many times half a fowl, 
with the liquor it was boiled in, served for a meal for all 


loss op the Transport harpooner. 341 

three. Once they lived five days without any suste¬ 
nance, but did not feel themselves pinched with hunger 
as at other times; which they esteemed a special favor 
of Heaven unto them. 

When they had lived in this miserable condition twelve 
weeks, Mr. How’s dear friend and companion, Mr. Au¬ 
gur, died, about the middle of February, 1677; so that 
he had none left to converse with but the lad, who like¬ 
wise departed on the 2d of April. 

Mr. How was now the sole inhabitant of this desolate 
spot, during April, May, and June, and saw fishing ves¬ 
sels every now and then, sailing by; some of which 
came even nearer to the island than that which at last 
took him off. He used all the means in his power to 
make them acquainted with his distress; but they either 
did not see him, or were afraid to approach close to the 
island, lest some of those Indians should be quartered 
there, who were at that time in hostility against the 
English, viz., the North-east Indians, who held out after 
the death of the famous Philip, king of the Wompa- 
noags. 

At length a vessel belonging to Salem, in New-Eng¬ 
land, providentially passed by, and seeing this poor fel¬ 
low, they sent their boat on shore, and took him away. 
He had been on the island more than seven months, and 
above a quarter of a year by himself. On the 18th of 
July, he arrived at Salem, and at last returned to his 
family at New-Haven. They for a twelvemonth had 
supposed him dead ; by which it appears he did not get 
home till the end of August, or perhaps later. 


LOSS OF THE TRANSPORT HARPOONER. 

The hired transport Harpooner was lost, near New¬ 
foundland, in November, 1818; she had on board three 
hundred and eighty-five men, women and children, in¬ 
cluding the ship’s company. The passengers consisted 
of detachments of several regiments, with their families, 
29 * 



342 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS* 

who were on their way to Quebec. On Saturday even* 
ing, November 10th, a few minutes after nine o’clock, the 
second mate on watch called otU, “ the ship ’s aground;” 
at which she slightly struck on the outermost rock of St. 
Shotts, in the island of Newfoundland. She beat over, 
and proceeding a short distance, she struck again, and 
filled; encircled among rocks, the wind blowing strong, 
the night dark, and a very heavy sea rolling, she soon fell 
over on her larboard beam end; and, to heighten the 
terror and alarm, a lighted candle communicated fire to 
some spirits in the master’s cabin, which, in the confu¬ 
sion, was with difficulty extinguished. 

The ship still driving over the rocks, her masts were 
cut away, by which some men were carried overboard. 
The vessel drifted over, near the high rocks, towards the 
main. In this situation, every one became terrified: the 
suddenness of the sea rushing in, carried away the berths 
and stanchions between decks, when men, women and 
children were drowned, and many were killed by the 
force with which they were driven against the loose bag¬ 
gage, casks, and staves, which floated below. All that 
possibly could, got upon deck, but from the crowd and 
confusion that prevailed, the orders of the officers and 
masters to the soldiers and seamen were unavailing; 
death stared every one in the face; the ship striking on 
the rocks, as though she would instantly upset. The 
shrieking and pressing of the people to the starboard 
side was so violent, that several were much hurt. 
About eleven o’clock, the boats on the deck were washed 
overboard by a heavy sea: but even from the com¬ 
mencement of the disaster, the hopes of any individual 
being saved were but very small. 

From this time, until four o’clock the next morning, 
all on the wreck were anxiously praying for the light to 
break upon them. The boat from the stern was in the 
meanwhile lowered down, when the first mate and four 
seamen, at the risk of their lives, pushed off to the shore. 
They with difficulty effected a landing upon the main 
land, behind a high rock, nearest to where the stern of 
the vessel had been driven. The log-line was thrown 


343 


LOSS OF ^HE TRANSPORT HARPOONER. 

from the wreck, with a hope that they might lay hold 
of it; but darkness, and the tremendotis surf that beat, 
rendered it impracticable. During this awful time of 
suspense, the possibility of sending a line to them by a 
dog occurred to the master; the animal was brought aft, 
and thrown into the sea with a line tied round his mid¬ 
dle, and with it he swam towards the rock upon which 
the mate and seamen were standing. It is impossible to 
describe the sensations which were excited at seeing this 
faithful dog struggling with the waves; and on reach¬ 
ing the summit of the rock repeatedly dashed back again 
by the surf into the sea; until at length, by unceasing 
exertions, he effected a landing. One end of the line be¬ 
ing on board, a stronger rope was hauled and fastened 
to the rock. 

At about six o’clock in the morning of the 11th, the 
first person was landed by this means ; and afterwards, 
by an improvement in rigging the rope, and placing each 
individual in slings, they were with greater facility ex¬ 
tricated from the wreck ; but during this passage, it was 
with the utmost difficulty that the unfortunate sufferers 
sould maintain their hold, as the sea beat over them, and 
some were dragged to the shore in a state of insensibility. 
Lieutenant Wilson was lost, being unable to hold on the 
rope with his hands; he was twice struck by the sea, 
fell backwards out of the slings, and after swimming for 
a considerable time amongst the floating wreck, by which 
he was struck on the head, he perished. Many who 
threw themselves overboard, trusting for their safety to 
swimming, were lost; they were dashed to pieces by the 
surf on the rocks, or by the floating pieces of the wreck. 

The rope, at length, by constant working, and by 
swinging across the sharp rock, was cut in two: and 
there being no means of replacing it, the spectacle be¬ 
came more than ever terrific; the sea beating over the 
wreck with great violence, washed numbers overboard; 
and at last the wreck, breaking up at the stern from 
midships and forecastle, precipitated all that remained 
into one common destruction. 

The parting of the ship was noticed by those on shore 


344 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


and signified with the most dreadful cry of “Gofof* 
ward !” It is difficult to paint the horror of the scene; 
children clinging to their parents for help ; parents them¬ 
selves struggling with death, and stretching out their 
feeble arms to save their children, dying within their 
grasp. 

The total number of persons lost was two hundred 
and eight, and one hundred and seventy-seven were 
saved. 

Lieutenant Mylrea, of the 4th Veteran Battalion, one 
of the oldest subalterns in the service, and then upwards 
of seventy years of age, was the last person who quitted 
the wreck; when he had seen every other person either 
safe, or beyond the power of assistance, he threw him¬ 
self on to a rock, from which he was afterwards rescued. 

Among the severest sufferers, was the daughter of sur¬ 
geon Armstrong, who lost on this fatal night her father, 
mother, brother, and two sisters. 

The rock which the survivors were landed upon, was 
about one hundred feet above the water, surrounded at 
the flowing of the tide. On the top of this rock they 
were obliged to remain during the whole of the night, 
without shelter, food, or nourishment, exposed to wind 
and rain, and many without shoes. The only comfort 
that presented itself was a fire, which was made from 
pieces of the wreck that had been washed ashore. 

At daylight on the morning of the 12th, at low water, 
their removal to the opposite land was effected, some be¬ 
ing let down by a rope, others slipping down a ladder to 
the bottom. After they crossed over, they directed their 
course to a house or fisherman’s shed, distant a mile and 
a half from the wreck, where they remained until the 
next day; the proprietor of this miserable shed not hav¬ 
ing the means of supplying relief to so considerable a 
number as took refuge, a party went over land to Tre- 
Tassy, about fourteen miles distant, through a marshy 
country, not inhabited by any human creature. This 
party arrived at Trepassy, and reported the event to 
Messrs. Jackson, Burke, Sims, and the Rev. Mr. Brown, 
who immediately took measures for alleviating the dis- 


LOSS OF THE BRIG POLLY. 


345 


tressed, by despatching men with provisions and spirits, 
and to assist in bringing all those forward to Trepassy 
who could walk. 

On the 13th, in the evening, the major part of the sur¬ 
vivors (assisted by the inhabitants, who, during the 
journey carried the weak and feeble upon their backs) 
arrived at Trepassy, where they were billeted, by order 
of the magistrate, proportionably upon each house. 

There still remained at St. Shotts, the wife of a ser¬ 
geant of the Veteran Battalion; with a child, of which 
she was delivered on the top of the rocks shortly after 
she was saved. A private, whose leg was broken, and 
a woman severely bruised by the wreck, were also neces¬ 
sarily left there. 

Immediately after the arrival at Trepassy, measures 
were adopted for the comfort and refreshment of the de¬ 
tachments, and boats were provided for their removal to 
St. 'John’s, where they ultimately arrived in safety. 


LOSS OF THE BRIG POLLY. 

The Brig Polly, of one hundred and thirty tons bur¬ 
then, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of lumber and 
provisions, on a voyage to Santa Croix, on the 12th of 
December, 1811, under the command of Capt. W. L, 
Cazneau—with a mate, four seamen and a cook; Mr. I. 
S. Hunt, and a negro girl of nine years of age, passen¬ 
gers. Nothing material happened until the 15th, when 
they had cleared cape Cod, the shoal of Georges, and 
nearly, as they supposed, crossed the gulf stream, when 
there came on a violent gale from the south-east, in 
which the brig labored very hard, which produced a leak 
that so gained on the pumps as to sound nearly six feet, 
—when about midnight she was upset, and Mr. Hunt 
washed overboard ! Not, having any reason to hope for 
her righting, by much exertion the weather-lanyards 
were cut away, the deck load having been before thrown 
over, and the lashings all gone; in about half an hour 



346 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


the mainmast went by the board, and soon after, the fore¬ 
mast, when she righted, though full of water, a dreadful 
sea making a fair breach over her from stem to stern.— 
In this situation the night wore away, and daylight 
found all alive except the passengers, and upon close 
search, the little girl was found clinging to the skylight, 
and so sa*red from drowning in the cabin. The glass 
and grating of the skylight having gone away, while on 
her beam ends, the little girl was drawn through the 
openings, but so much chilled that she survived but a 
few hours. In this situation they remained, without 
fire, as near as the captain can recollect, twelve days, 
when the cook, an Indian from Canton, near Boston, 
suggested the operation of rubbing two sticks together, 
which supceeded. Very fortunately, the caboose did 
not- go overboard with the deck load: this was got to 
windward, a fire kindled, and some provisions cooked, 
which was the first they had tasted, except raw pork, for 
the whole time. They now got up a barrel of pork, part 
of a barrel of beef, and one half barrel of beef. A small 
pig had been saved alive, which they now dressed, not 
having any thing to feed it with. But at this time no 
apprehension was entertained of suffering for meat, there 
being several barrels stowed in the run, and upwards of 
one hundred under deck. With this impression, the 
people used the provisions very imprudently, till they dis¬ 
covered that the stern-post was gone, and the gale conti¬ 
nuing for a long time, the barrels had stove, and their 
contents were all lost forever. 

There happened to be a cask of water lashed on the 
quarter-deck, which was saved, containing about thirty 
gallons; all the rest was lost. This lasted about eighteen 
days, when the crew were reduced to the necessity of 
catching what rain they could, and having no more. * At 
the end of forty days, the meat was all gone, and absolute 
famine stared them in the face. The first victim to this 
destroyer was Mr. Paddock, the mate, whose exquisite 
distress seemed to redouble the sufferings of his compa¬ 
nions. He was a man of a robust constitution, who had 
spent his life in the Bank fishing, had suffered many 


LOSS OF THE BRIG POLLY. 


347 


hardships and appeared the most capable of standing 
the shocks of misfortune of any of the crew. In the 
meridian of life, being about thirty-five years old, it was 
reasonable to suppose that, instead of the first, he would 
have been the last to have fallen a sacrifice to cold and 
hunger : but Heaven ordered it otherwise—he became 
delirious, and death relieved him from his sufferings the • 
fiftieth day of his shipwreck. During all thiS time, the 
storms continued, and would often overwhelm them so 
as to keep them always drenched with sea-water, having 
nothing to screen them, except a temporary kind of ca¬ 
bin which they built up of boards between the windlass 
and nighthead on the larboard side of the forecastle. 
The next who sunk under this horrid press of disasters 
was Howes, a young man of about thirty, who likewise 
was a fisherman by profession, and tall, spare, and as 
smart and active a seaman as any aboard. He likewise 
died delirious and in dreadful distress, six days after 
Paddock, being the fifty-sixth day of the wreck. It was 
soon perceived that this must evidently be the fate of all 
the survivors in a short time, if something was not done 
to procure water. About this time, good luck, or more 
probably, kind Providence, enabled them to fish up the 
tea-kettle, and one of the captain’s pistols; and necessity, 
the mother of invention, suggested the plan of distilla¬ 
tion. Accordingly, a piece of board was very nicely 
fitted to the mouth of the boiler, a small hole made in it, 
and the tea-kettle, bottom-upwards, fixed to the upper 
side of the board, the pistol-barrel was fixed to the nose 
of the kettle and kept cool by the constant application 
of cold water. This completely succeeded, and the sur¬ 
vivors, without a doubt, owe their preservation to this 
simple experiment. But all that could be obtained by 
this very imperfect distillation, was a scanty allowance 
of water for five men; yet it would sustain life and that 
was all. The impression that there was meat enough 
under the deck, induced them to use every exertion to 
obtain it; but by getting up pieces of bone, entirely bare 
of meat and in a putrid state, they found that nothing 
was left for them but to rely on Heaven for food, and bo 


348 REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 

contented with whatever came to hand, till relief should 
come. Their only sustenance now, was barnacles ga¬ 
thered from the sides of the vessel which were eaten raw 
that the distillirig might not be interrupted, which would 
give them no more than four wine glasses of water each 
per day. The next food which they obtained was a large 
shark caught by means of a running bow-line. This 
was a very great relief and lasted some time. Two ad¬ 
vantages arose from this signal interposition of kind Pro¬ 
vidence ; for while they lived upon their shark, the bar¬ 
nacles were growing larger and more nutritive. They 
likewise found many small crabs among the sea-weed 
which often floated around the wreck, which were very 
pleasant food. But from the necessity of chewing them 
raw and sucking out the nourishment, they brought on an 
obstinate costiveness, which became extremely painful 
and probably much exasperated by the want of water. 

On the 15th of March, according to their computation, 
poor Moho, the cook, expired, evidently from want of 
water, though with much less distress than the others 
and in the full exercise of his reason : he very devoutly 
prayed and appeared perfectly resigned to the will of the 
God who afflicted him. Their constant study was di¬ 
rected to the improvement of their still, which was made 
much better by the addition of the other pistol barrel, 
which was found by fishing with the grain they made 
by fixing nails into a piece of a stave. With this barrel 
they so far perfected the still as to obtain eight junk bot- 
bottles full of water in twenty-four hours. But from the 
death of Moho to the death of Johnson, which happened 
about the middle of April, they seemed to be denied 
every kind of food. The barnacles were all gone, and 
no friendly gale wafted to their side the sea-weed from 
which they could obtain crabs or insects. It seemed as 
if all hope was gone forever, and they had nothing be¬ 
fore them but death, or the horrid alternative of eating 
the flesh of their dead' companion. One expedient was 
left, that was to try to decoy a shark, if happily there 
might be one about the wreck, by part of the corpse 
of their shipmate ! This succeeded, and they caught 


LOSS OF THE BRIG POLLY. 


349 


a large shark, and from that time had many fish 
till their happy deliverance. Very fortunately, a cask 
of nails which was on deck, lodged in the lea-scuppeis 
while on their beam ends : with these they were enabled 
to fasten the shingles on their cabin, which by constant 
improvement, had become much more commodious, and 
when reduced to two only, they had a better supply of 
water. 

They had now drifted above two thousand miles, and 
were in latitude 28 North, and longitude 13 West, when 
to their unspeakable joy they saw three ships bearing 
down upon them. The ships came as near as was con¬ 
venient, and then hailed, which captain Cazneau an¬ 
swered with all the force of his lungs. The ship which 
hailed, proved to be the Fame, of Hull, captain Feather- 
stone, bound from Rio Janeiro home. It so happened 
that the three captains had dined together that day and 
were all on board the Fame. Humanity immediately 
sent a boat, which put an end to the dreadful thraldom 
of captain Cazneau and Samuel Badger, the only sur¬ 
viving persons who were received by these humane 
Englishmen with exalted sensibility. Thus was ended 
the most shocking catastrophe which our naval history 
has recorded for many years, after a series of distresses 
from December 15th to the 20th of June, a period of one 
hundred and ninety-one days ! Every attention was 
paid to the sufferers that generosity warmed with pity 
and fellow-feeling could dictate, on board the Fame. 
They were cherished, comforted, fed, clothed and nursed 
until the 9th of July, when they fell in with captain 
Perkins, of the brig Dromo, in the chops of the channel 
of England, who generously took them on board and 
carefully perfected the work of goodness begun by the 
generous Englishmen, and safely landed them in Keune- 
bunk. 

It is natural to inquire how they could float such a 
vast distance upon the most frequented part of the At¬ 
lantic and not be discovered all this time ? They were 
passed by more than a dozen sail, one of which came so 
nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on 
30 


350 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


deck and on the rigging looking at them: but to the in¬ 
expressible disappointment of the starving and freezing 
men, they stifled the dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, 
and cruelly abandoned them to their fate. 


THE LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP, QUEEN 
CHARLOTTE. 

The queen Charlotte was, perhaps, one of the finest 
ships in the British navy. She was launched in 1790, 
and her first cruise was with the fleet fitted out against 
Spain, in consequence of the dispute respecting Nootka 
sound. Lord Howe, who was the commander and 
chief of the fleet, was then on board of her; and she also 
bore his lordships flag on the first of June. After which 
she was sent to the Mediterranean, and was the flag-ship 
of the commander-in-chief on that station. In March, 
1800, she was despatched by that nobleman to reconnoi¬ 
tre the island of Cabrera, about thirty leagues from Leg¬ 
horn, then in the possession of the French, and which 
it was his lordship’s intention to attack. On the morn¬ 
ing of the 17th, the ship was discovered to be on fire, at 
the distance of three or four leagues from Leghorn. 
Every assistance was promptly forwarded from the 
shore, but a number of boats, it appears, were deterred 
from approaching the wreck, in consequence of the guns, 
which were shotted, and which, when heated by the 
fire, discharged their contents in every direction. 

The only consolation that presents itself under the 
pressure of so calamitous a disaster is, that it was not 
the effect either of treachery or wilful neglect, as will 
appear by the following official statement of the carpen¬ 
ter :— 

“ Mr. John Braid, carpenter of the queen Charlotte, 
reports, that twenty minutes after 6 o’clock in the morn¬ 
ing, as he was dressing himself he heard throughout the 
ship a general cry of “fire.” 0n which he immediately 



LOSS OF THE SHIP QUEEN CHARLOTTE. 351 

ran up the after-ladder to get upon deck, and found the 
whole half-deck, the front bulk-head of the admiral’s 
cabin, the main-mast’s coat, and boat’s covering on the 
booms, all in flames; which, from every report and pro¬ 
bability, he apprehends was occasioned by some hay, 
which was lying under the half-deck, having been set 
on fire by a match in a tub, which was usually kept 
there for signal guns.—The main-sail at this time was 
set, and almost entirely caught fire; the people not being 
able to come to the clue garnets on account of the 
flames. 

“He immediately went to the forecastle, and found 
lieutenant Dundas and the boatswain encouraging the 
people to get water to extinguish the fire. Rj applied 
to Mr. Dundas, seeing no other officer in the forepart of 
the ship (and being unable to see any on the quarter¬ 
deck, from the flames and smoke between them) to give 
him assistance to drown the lower-decks, and secure the 
hatches, to prevent the fire falling down. Lieutenant 
Dundas accordingly went down himself, with as many 
people as he could prevail upon to follow him: and the 
lower-deck ports were opened, the scuppers plugged, the 
main and fore-hatches secured, the cocks turned, and 
water drawn in at the ports, and the pumps kept going 
by the people who came down, as long as they could 
stand at them. 

“ He thinks that by these exertions the lower-deck 
was kept free from fire, and the magazines preserved for 
a long time from danger; nor did lieutenant Dundas, or 
he y quit this station, but remained there with all the 
people who could be prevailed upon to stay, till several 
of the middle-deck guns came through that deck. 

“ About nine o’clock, lieutenant Dundas and he, find¬ 
ing it impossible to remain any longer below, went out 
at the fore-most lower deck port, and got upon the fore¬ 
castle ; on which he apprehends there were then about 
one hundred and fifty of the people drawing water, and 
throwing it as far aft as possible upon the fire. 

“ He continued about an hour on the fore-castle ; and 
finding all efforts to extinguish the flames unavailing, he 



352 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


jumped from the jib-boom, and swam to an American 
boat approaching the ship, by which he was picked up 
and put into a Tartan, then in the charge of lieutenant 
Stewart, who had come off to the assistance of the ship. 

(Signed) “JOHN BRAID.” 

Leghorn, March 18, 1800. 

' Captain Todd remained upon deck, with his first 
lieutenant, to the last moment, giving orders for saving 
the crew, without thinking of his own safety. Before he' 
fell a sacrifice to the flames, he had time and courage to 
write down the particulars of this melancholy event, for 
the information of lord Keith, of which he gave copies to 
different sailors, entreating them, that whoever should 
escape might deliver it to the admiral. 

Thus fell victims to perhaps a too severe duty, the 
captain and his first lieutenant, at a time when they still 
had it in their power to save themselves; but self-pre¬ 
servation is never a matter of consideration in the ex¬ 
alted mind of a British naval officer, when the safety of 
his crew is at stake. 

Lord Keith and some of the officers were providen¬ 
tially on shore at Leghorn, when the dreadful accident 
occurred. Twenty commissioned and warrant officers, 
two servants and one hundred and forty-two seamen, 
are the whole of the crew that escaped desrtuction out 
of nearly nine hundred souls on board, that for nearly 
four hours exerted every nerve to avoid that dreadful 
termination which too surely awaited them. 


LOSS OF THE AMPHITRITE CONVICT SHIP. 

The following particulars of the loss of this vessel are 
copied from a letter dated Boulogne-sur-mer, September 
1, 1833. 

The shocking event which is announced by the title to 
this letter, has, I assure you, filled the town with dis¬ 
may, and must lead to a most narrow and rigid investi¬ 
gation. I cannot attempt to describe the afllictions not 



T.OSS OF THE AMPHITRITE CONVICT SHIP. 353 

only of the English, but the French, at this most dis¬ 
tressing event, and I only express the general opinion 
when. I say that the British public demands that an in¬ 
quiry be instituted into the conduct of all parties con¬ 
cerned in this deplorable affair. 

The Amphitrite convict ship sailed for New South 
Wales from Woolwich on the 25th of August. Captain 
Hunter was the commander ; Mr. Forrester the surgeon; 
and there were one hundred and eight female convicts, 
twelve children, and a crew of sixteen persons. The 
captain was part owner of the vessel. When the ship 
arrived off Dungeness, the gale of the 29th began. On 
Friday morning the captain hove the ship to, the gale 
being too heavy to sail. The vessel was about three 
miles to the east from Boulogne harbor on Saturday at 
noon, when they made land. The captain set the top¬ 
sail and main-foresail in hopes of keeping her off shore. 

From three o’clock she was in sight of Boulogne, and 
certainly the sea was most heavy and the wind extremely 
strong; but no pilot boat went out to her, and no life¬ 
boats or other assistance were dispatched. I observed 
her from three o’clock till about half past four in the 
afternoon, when she came round into Boulogne harbor 
and struck on the sands. By four o’clock it was known 
that it was a British ship, but some said it was a brig; 
others said it was a merchant vessel, though all said it 
was English. 

It appears from the statement of three men who have 
been saved out of the crew—all the rest having perish¬ 
ed—that the captain ordered the anchor to be let go, in 
hopes of swinging round with the tide. 

In a few minutes after the vessel had gone aground, 
multitudes rushed to the beach, and a brave French sai¬ 
lor, named Pierre Henin. who has already received the 
thanks of the Humane society, of London, addressed 
himself to the captain of the port, and said that he was 
resolved to go alone, and to reach the vessel, in order to 
tell the captain that he had not a moment to lose^ but 
must, as it was low water, send all his. crew and pas¬ 
sengers on shore. 

30 * 


354 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


You will recollect that up to the time of her running 
aground no measure was adopted, and the captain was 
not warned from shore of her danger. 

As soon as she had struck, however, a pilot-boat, com¬ 
manded by Francois Heuret, who has on many occa¬ 
sions shown much courage and talent, was dispatched, 
and by a little after five came under her bows. The 
captain of the vessel refused to avail himself of the as¬ 
sistance of Heuret and his brave companions, and when 
a portion of the crew prpposed going on shore the captain 
prevented them. Two of the men saved, state that they 
knew the boat was under the bows, but that the rest 
were below making up their bundles. The crew could 
then have got on shore and all the unfortunate women 
and children. 

When the French boat had gone, the surgeon sent for 
Owen, one of the crew, and ordered him to get out the 
long-boat. This was about half past five. The surgeon 
discussed the matter with his wife and with the captain. 
They were afraid of allowing the prisoners to go on 
shore. The wife of the surgeon is said to have propos¬ 
ed to leave the convicts there, and to go on shore with¬ 
out them. 

In consequence of the discussion, no long-boat was 
sent out. Three of the convict women told Owen, that 
they heard the surgeon persuaded the captain not to ac¬ 
cept the assistance of the French boat, on account of the 
prisoners who were on board. 

Let us now return to Pierre Henin. The French 
pilot-boat had been refused by the surgeon and captain 
—the long-boat had been put out, through a discussion 
as to saving the convicts—and it was now nearly six 
o’clock. At that time Henin went to the beach, stripped 
himself, took a line, swam naked for about three quar¬ 
ters of an hour or an hour, and arrived at the vessel at a 
little after seven. On reaching the right side of the ves¬ 
sel, he hailed the crew, and said, “Give me a line to 
conduct you on land, or you are lost, as the sea is com¬ 
ing in.” He spoke English plain enough to he heard. 
He touched the vessel and told them to speak to the cap- 


LOSS 0^ THE AMPHITRITE CONVICT SHIP. 355 

tain. They threw (that is, some of the crew, but not 
the surgeon or captain) two lines, one from the stern and 
one from the bow. The one from the stern he could not 
seize—the one from the bow he did. He then went to¬ 
wards the shore, but the rope was stopped. This was, 
it is believed, the act of the surgeon and captain. He 
(Henin) then swam back, and told them to give him 
more rope to get on shore. The captain and surgeon 
would not. They then tried to haul him in, but his 
strength failed and he got on shore. 

You perceive, then, that up to this moment also the 
same obstacle existed in the minds of the captain and 
surgeon. They did not dare, without authority, to land 
the convicts, and rather than leave them on board, or 
land them without such authority, they perished with 
them. 

The female convicts, who were battened down under 
the hatches, on the vessel’s running aground, broke 
away the half deck hatch, and frantic, rushed on deck. 
Of course they entreated the captain and surgeon to let 
them go on shore in the long-boat, but they were not 
listened to, as the captain and surgeon did not feel au¬ 
thorized to liberate prisoners committed to their care. 

At seven o’clock the flood tide began. The crew see¬ 
ing that there were no hopes, clung to the rigging. The 
poor one hundred and eight women and twelve children re- 
mainedon deck, uttering the most piteous cries. The ves¬ 
sel was about three quarters of a mile English from the 
shore, and no more. Owen, one of the three men saved, 
thinks that the women remained on deck in this state 
about an hour and a half. Owen and four others were 
on the spars, and thinks they remained there three quar¬ 
ters of an hour, but, seeing no hope of being saved, he 
took to swimming, and was brought in a state of insensi¬ 
bility to the hotel. Towsey, another of the men saved, 
was on a plank with the captain. Towsey asked who 
he was? He said “I am the captain,” but the next 
moment he was gone. Rice, the third man, floated 
ashore on a ladder. He was in the aft when the other 
men took to the raft. When the French pilot-boat row- 


356 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


ed away, after being rejected by the captain, he (Rice) 
saw a man waving his hat on the beach, and remarked 
to the captain that a gentleman was waving to them to 
come on shore. The captain turned away and made no 
answer. At that moment the women all disappeared, 
the ship broke in two. 

These are the facts of this awful case. The French 
Marine Humane society immediately placed hundreds 
of men on the beach; and the office, or lodging, being 
close to the shore, as soon as the corpses were picked up 
they were brought to the rooms, where I assisted many 
of my countrymen in endeavoring to restore them to 
life. Our efforts were fruitless, except in the cases of the 
three men, Owen, Rice, and Towsey. I never saw so 
many fine and beautiful bodies in my life. Some of the 
women were the most perfectly made; and French and 
English wept together at such a horrible loss of life in 
sight of—ay, and even close to, the port and town. 
Body after body has been brought in. More than sixty 
have been found; they will be buried to-morrow. But 
alas! after all our efforts, only three lives have been sav¬ 
ed out of one hundred and thirty-six. 


LOSS OF THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 

The ship Lady of the Lake, sailed from Belfast, on 
the 8th of April 1833, bound to Quebec, with two hun¬ 
dred and thirty passengers. The following particulars 
were furnished by captain Grant. 

On the 11th May, in latitude 46. 50, north, and longi¬ 
tude 47. 10, west, at five A. M., steering per compass 
W. S. W. with a strong wind at N. N. E. we fell in Avith 
several pieces of ice; at eight, A. M. the ice getting 
closer, I judged it prudent to haul the ship out to the 
eastward under easy sail to avoid it; while endeavoring 
to pass betAveen two large pieces, a tongue under water 
in the lee ice struck our starboard bow and stove it en¬ 
tirely in. We immediately wore the ship round, expect- 



LOSS OF THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 


357 


mg to get the leak out of the water, but did not succeed; 
the ship now filling fast, the mate, with seven or eight 
of the crew, got into the stern-boat—after getting bread, 
beef, compass, &c. &c. we pulled away to the north¬ 
west—the scene that then took place is beyond descrip¬ 
tion ; after getting the long-boat out, the passengers 
crowded into her with such mad desperation, that she 
was twice upset alongside, drowning about eighty of 
them. I now attempted to save my own life and suc¬ 
ceeded in getting the boat clear of the ship half full of 
water, with thirty-three souls in her, without oars, sails, 
or a mouthful of provisions. The last time I saw the 
brig, (the ice coming between her and us) she was sunk 
up to the tops, and about thirty of the passengers in the 
main-top-mast rigging. We then tried to pull after the 
other boat, with the bottom boards and thufts, but got 
beset with the ice. We now expected a worse fate than 
those who were in the vessel, viz. to perish with cold 
and hunger. The next morning the wind changed to 
the westward and we got clear of most of the ice. We 
then pulled to the eastward, in the faint hope of some 
vessel picking us up, and at noon saw a brig lying-to 
under her two top-sails—at four got on board of her, and 
found the crew just leaving her, the brig in the same 
state as our own, sinking. We, however, got some pro¬ 
visions out of her, and there being a boat lying on her 
decks, I got part of the passengers out of our own boat 
into it. In the course of the night it came on to blow 
from the south-west and the other boat foundered. All 
that now remained alive, to the best of my belief or 
knowledge, out of a crew and passengers of two hundred 
and eighty, is myself, one seamen, two boys, nine male 
passengers and two female, fifteen in all. At noon on 
the 14th, we fell in with the master and mate of the brig 
Harvest Home, of Newcastle, the vessel we had pre¬ 
viously been on board of; and on the evening of the 
same day both got on board of a loaded brig bound to 
St. Johns, Newfoundland, after we had been seventy- 
five hours in an open boat, half-dressed, wet, and frost 
bitten; next morning, I, with the remainder of the crew 


358 


REMARKABLE SHIPWRECKS. 


and passengers, left the brig and was kindly received on 
board the ship Amazon, of Hull, bound to Quebec, where 
we arrived in safety. 


LOSS OF THE BRITISH BRIG JESSE. 

The following are the particulars respecting the wreck 
of the British ship or brig Jesse, captain Gilmour, under 
very distressing circumstances :— 

The Jesse, timber laden, left St. John’s, Newfound¬ 
land, on the 14th of May, 1835, for Belfast, and on the 
17th, encountered a heavy gale, which strained the ves¬ 
sel, and occasioned her to make a great deal of water. 
No danger was apprehended till the 25th of May, when 
a tremendous gale sprang up from the North and East, 
and the ship was hove to under close reefed maintopsail 
and storm trysail—all hands pumping, but the water still 
gained on her and she shipped some heavy seas. 

On Sunday, 24th of May, although all hands were at 
the pumps, the leaks still increased; at half past eleven, 
A. M., had reached the cabin door. A few buckets of 
bread were got out of the cabin, also a barrel of bread 
and a cask of water, all of which were hoisted into the 
maintop. The captain ordered the long-boat to be clear¬ 
ed. On Monday, the vessel began to break up rapidly, 
and the cargo to float out; about nine, P. M., the foremast 
fell through the bottom, until brought up by the lower 
yard resting on the rail. About half an hour afterwards, 
the mainmast got out of the step, and shortly after, was 
carried away a few feet above the deck; by this accident, 
the provisions secured in the foretop were lost. 

The captain and crew, fifteen in number, with six 
steerage passengers, then embarked in the long-boat, 
with about five gallons of water, a few pieces of 'salt 
beef, and a little bread so saturated with salt water, that 
it was of the consistency of pap; a dog was also taken 
into the boat, which, in the sequel, they killed, and th« 


LOSS OF THE BRITISH BRIG JESSE. 359 

flesh devoured, after drinking his blood, which afforded 
them great relief 

The compass was unfortunately broken in putting it 
into the boat, so that they had nothing to steer by, but 
the stars and the sun. This occurred in lat. 41 30 N. 
long. 25 20 W.—cape Rae being about four hundred and 
fifty miles distant. From the time of leaving the ship, 
until the Saturday following, May 30, the boat was kept 
before the wind, a heavy sea running all the time, which 
threatened to swamp the long-boat. 

On this day, James Savage, seaman, became insane 
and jumped overboard, all efforts to save him were una¬ 
vailing. Shortly after, James Robinson, seaman, expired, 
and on the next day, William Robinson, the cook, also 
died. On Monday, Mrs. McCartney, passenger, and her 
two infant children, expired, exhausted with their suffer¬ 
ings ; on Tuesday, Samuel Nugent, a passenger, James 
Scott, apprentice, and William Savage, apprentice, died. 

On Wednesday, at three, P. M., saw a sail to the E. 
N. E. which proved the Ythan, of New-Castle, captain 
W. Davidson, who received the survivors, twelve in 
number, on board. Hugh Macanelly, seaman, died 
shortly after, and on Thursday, 4th of June, John Mullin, 
seaman. On the Wednesday following, 10th of June, 
Charles Stevens, Robert Jones, J. McKnabb, were put 
on board the Wansbeck, captain Young. The remain¬ 
der have since arrived; two have been sent to the hospi¬ 
tal, and the others are still in a weak state, from their 
sufferings. The whole of those who died, drank salt 
water to excess, and became insane before death ensued. 

The following is a list of the survivors Capt. Gil- 
mour, W. Kelley, first mate, Hugh Smith, second do., 
John McKnabb, carpenter, Charles Stevens, R. Jones, 
Alexander Stuart, seaman, and Andrew Close, appren¬ 
tice ; Samuel McCartney, husband and father of the fe¬ 
male and children who died in the boat, and Margaret 
Crouch passengers. McCartney has since been taken to 
the marine hospital, in a very exhausted state, as have 
two of the crew. 


Vv 

V' 


INDEX 


Pag* 

Loss of the Grosvenor lndiaman,.5 

Loss of the Fattysalem,.41 

Loss of the Ship Hercules,...56 

Loss of the Ship Litchfield,.. 89 

Loss of the Portuguese vessel St James,. «... . 100 

Loss of the Ship Centaur, . . ..•.104 

Loss of the Sloop Betsy,.118 

Loss of the Brig Tyrellj.'. . 131 

Loss of the Prince, by fire,. ..142 

Loss of he Phasnix,.•.154 

Loss of the La Tribune,.169 

Famine in the American Ship Peggy,.175 

The wrecked Seamen,.i.180 

Loss of the Peggy,.. 187 

Loss of the Halsewell East lndiaman,.-..195 

Loss of the Nottingham Galley, of London, .206 

Loss of the Ship Droits de L’Homme,.219 

Loss of the Earl of Abergavenny East lndiaman,. 223 

Loss of the Catharine, Venus, and Piedmont Transports : and three 

Merchant Ships.. 230 

Wreck of the British Ship Sidney,.242 

Loss of the Ramillies,.. ..248 

Preservation of Nine Men,.>*.'. 258 

Loss of the ./Eneas Transport,.265 

Loss of the Nautilus Sloop of War,.269 

Loss of the Ship Amphion,.282 

Loss of the Helen M’Gregor,.288 

Loss of the Ship Beverly,.294 

Loss of the Ship Albion,. 299 

Loss of the Ship Logan, by fire, ..306 

Loss of the Ship Margaret,.308 

Burning of the Kent,.!312 

Loss of the Ship Boston,.. 

Loss of the Whale Ship Essex,.. 

Loss of the Isabella,. # „ [ * 32 # 

Loss of the Rothsay Castle Steamer,.. 

Loss of the Brig Sally.. 337 

Sufferings of Ephraim Howe,.•._ 339 

Loss of the Transport Harpooner,.... 34 1 

Loss of the Brig Polly,.. . . 345 

Loss of the Q,ueen Charlotte,. ’*.*.*. 349 

Loss of the Amphitrite Convict Ship,.. 

\oss of the Lady of the Lake,.366 

Loss of the British Brig Jesse,.. 1 *.!! 1 3S8 


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